How a New Dryer can Change Your Life
I spent hours, upon hours, trying to figure out what dryer to buy to replace my broken one. I first grouped together the least expensive dryers, anything I could find under $500. Then, I chose the most reliable out of that group. Clearly, it would have been great to buy a really nice dryer but that couldn't happen.
I also decided to get a new washer at the same time. I have to mop up water every time we use the washer because of a leak somewhere and the clutch is going out. Every time it switches from wash, to rinse, to spin, to screeches with jarring decibels that make me jump every time. I knew it wouldn't be long before several parts needed to be replaced.
Here's the thing. I loved my old set. In shopping around, I was so worried the new machines wouldn't perform as well as my old ones, (when they were in working order). It was really stressing me out.
The local store arrived at the appointed delivery time to install the new set on Friday afternoon. I wasn't all that excited about the new set, however, I was excited to get my backlog of laundry done!
It was a life changing experience! The washer is huge. Sam does a ton of washing because he saves up a couple of weeks before he does it. It would take 6 loads to complete his pile of clothes in our old washer. This washer? 2.5 loads! It was done in 20 minutes instead of nearly 40. There was no shrieking of the gears, it didn't bang against the wall. I didn't have to mop up. It was so surprising.
The dryer is also very large and so quiet! The clothes dry lightening fast; easily in half the time as my old one. Not one thing came out of the dryer with a tear in it from getting caught up on the baffles inside.
So, what's the point?
Well, I was content with my very old set. They were a little quirky but we just learned to live with it, accept that this is what we had to work with. They were fine because I had no idea what I was missing. It didn't dawn on me that I could actually do a double load of washing in a new unit. My old washer had a sticker on it that said, " Super Over-sized Plus Capacity". That alone had me convinced that I owned a large washer!
The old washer and dryer is much like my life. More often than not, I just accept that tired is what I will always be and struggling to make a living is just the way it is because after all, I'm a single mom and single moms just struggle, it's just how it is; as if the Universe has already made that a rule. Having kids with a life changing, life threatening, fatal disease is just sad and means everything is heavy and hard and difficult...at best. What else could it possibly be, but sorrowful?
Maybe in some ways, there is truth to these beliefs, they are really hard and overwhelming, but how do these labels keep us stuck? We just come to expect nothing more than what we have in front of us, never exploring other possibilities. Sometimes, it's a lack of resources that keeps us stuck; emotional, physical and financial resources. For many things, it's the inability to make a shift in our minds. We fear the unknown...it can't possibly be better than what we know now.
I remember moments in the past when I was more nimble in accepting and managing the adversity we faced. I remember being able to laugh in the moment of intense tribulation. I was committed to the process of taking care of my family and I could look for ways around whatever mountains we faced. I'm not sure how I got to where I am now, rigid, serious and far from content. It's a hard thing to admit.
Odd that a new washer and dryer is what it took for this awakening. It was an expensive awakening. Today, I've spent so much of the day, pondering and cataloging my life; looking at the deep ruts I find myself spinning around in and searching for ways I can super size my life with more capacity to learn from these Heavenly lessons, meant to strengthen the sinewy threads of my heart.
I also decided to get a new washer at the same time. I have to mop up water every time we use the washer because of a leak somewhere and the clutch is going out. Every time it switches from wash, to rinse, to spin, to screeches with jarring decibels that make me jump every time. I knew it wouldn't be long before several parts needed to be replaced.
Here's the thing. I loved my old set. In shopping around, I was so worried the new machines wouldn't perform as well as my old ones, (when they were in working order). It was really stressing me out.
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| The life changing washer and dryer |
The local store arrived at the appointed delivery time to install the new set on Friday afternoon. I wasn't all that excited about the new set, however, I was excited to get my backlog of laundry done!
It was a life changing experience! The washer is huge. Sam does a ton of washing because he saves up a couple of weeks before he does it. It would take 6 loads to complete his pile of clothes in our old washer. This washer? 2.5 loads! It was done in 20 minutes instead of nearly 40. There was no shrieking of the gears, it didn't bang against the wall. I didn't have to mop up. It was so surprising.
The dryer is also very large and so quiet! The clothes dry lightening fast; easily in half the time as my old one. Not one thing came out of the dryer with a tear in it from getting caught up on the baffles inside.
So, what's the point?
Well, I was content with my very old set. They were a little quirky but we just learned to live with it, accept that this is what we had to work with. They were fine because I had no idea what I was missing. It didn't dawn on me that I could actually do a double load of washing in a new unit. My old washer had a sticker on it that said, " Super Over-sized Plus Capacity". That alone had me convinced that I owned a large washer!
The old washer and dryer is much like my life. More often than not, I just accept that tired is what I will always be and struggling to make a living is just the way it is because after all, I'm a single mom and single moms just struggle, it's just how it is; as if the Universe has already made that a rule. Having kids with a life changing, life threatening, fatal disease is just sad and means everything is heavy and hard and difficult...at best. What else could it possibly be, but sorrowful?
Maybe in some ways, there is truth to these beliefs, they are really hard and overwhelming, but how do these labels keep us stuck? We just come to expect nothing more than what we have in front of us, never exploring other possibilities. Sometimes, it's a lack of resources that keeps us stuck; emotional, physical and financial resources. For many things, it's the inability to make a shift in our minds. We fear the unknown...it can't possibly be better than what we know now.
I remember moments in the past when I was more nimble in accepting and managing the adversity we faced. I remember being able to laugh in the moment of intense tribulation. I was committed to the process of taking care of my family and I could look for ways around whatever mountains we faced. I'm not sure how I got to where I am now, rigid, serious and far from content. It's a hard thing to admit.
Odd that a new washer and dryer is what it took for this awakening. It was an expensive awakening. Today, I've spent so much of the day, pondering and cataloging my life; looking at the deep ruts I find myself spinning around in and searching for ways I can super size my life with more capacity to learn from these Heavenly lessons, meant to strengthen the sinewy threads of my heart.
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