At the Risk of Appearing Bonkers . . .

. . . let me tell you what I did this afternoon that made me feel really good.

First of all, I found a new blog that I think I'm going to like a lot. The post today kinda sorta had to do with Valentine's Day. As we grow older, we tend to lose the sense of joy and romance in our every day routines. The author of the blog suggested several simple things to do that might give us a boost out of our ruts. She said we might even "be gentle with ourselves and lower our insanely high standards just a bit." Also, she wrote how nice it would be to do something that makes someone else feel good, and equally as important, something that makes us feel good.

One specific suggestion you could do for yourself was:

"Declutter your make-up drawer and line it with beautiful paper so that it makes you smile every morning."

Now don't you laugh. This hit me smack in the middle of my forehead. The drawer that holds my make-up has been truly yucky for some time.

I know my make-up drawer isn't very cluttered (there would be those who would say I NEED more make-up but we won't go into that right now) but it is dirty and that bugs me every time I go in there. But, really, (that old kill-joy voice in my head said) who sees it but me and there are lots of other household-y cleaning chores I should tackle before that drawer.

But, listen carefully 'cause it really gets crazy here. I dropped everything this afternoon and tore into that drawer!

Oh, gross! Full of strands of hair (my brush and combs are kept at the very back --- the drawer doesn't pull out far enough for you to see them) and balls of brownish gray . . . brownish gray . . . stuff! (What the heck is that stuff and where did it come from?) If the Sanitation Department had made a house call, I would be in jail right now.

Not only did I clean the drawer thoroughly but I actually threw out twelve lipsticks I'd been hanging on to for probably that many years. (And never using.)

I didn't stop there. I was on a roll. I even sorted and cleaned the other two drawers that WERE cluttered.

I lined my drawer with red paper. Why RED paper? Because red is vibrant and exciting and passionate. And I am vibrant and exciting and passionate. (Uh-huh, and I spend afternoons cleaning out bathroom drawers.)

But ya know what? I am definitely going to feel good every time I go into that dad-gum make-up drawer of mine for who-knows-how-long. What a life altering act! I'm so proud of me.