About that thing you’ve been avoiding…

Do you ever find yourself avoiding something you know you should do, either because it’s going to cost too much money or take too much time, or just won’t be very pleasant?

Me too. 

Case in point: my computer.

For at least the last two years (and maybe even longer) my circa 2018 work computer has given me fits pretty much every time I use it, but especially anytime I need to use Keynote—the Mac version of PowerPoint—which I do almost every day.

Tasks that should take me no more than an hour sometimes end up taking me days, between the freezing and the rebooting and the dreaded spinning wheel of death.

But for some silly reason, I just couldn’t bring myself to buy a new one.

Everytime I thought about it, something would get in my way.

Mac no longer offered the larger screen I prefer.

I was confused by all the different RAM and memory options.

The line at the Apple store was too long.

And truthfully it just felt like so much money for something I already have.

So I just kept struggling, wasting hours upon hours of valuable time each day.

Every time I’d complain to my husband, he’d say the same thing.

“Why don’t you just get a new one? Isn’t your time worth more?”

He was absolutely right. 

And yet, I couldn’t seem to bring myself to just do it.

That is until two weeks ago, when I finally hit my breaking point.

And when my shiny new iMac arrived a week ago, it was suddenly like I could breathe again.

Everything just works. No spinning wheel of death. Lightning fast. I can actually get things done.

And I can’t help but wonder, WHAT THE HECK WAS I WAITING FOR? 

When I think about the amount of pain and frustration I could have saved myself, and about the hours upon hours of time I wasted for the sake of $2300, I realize that I was a fool.

I’d like to think that I’ve learned my lesson, but I think these kinds of situations happen more often than we realize.

As a business owner, I’ve avoided firing employees that definitely needed to go.

As a mom, I’ve avoided cracking down when I should have, because it felt easier to just let things go.

As a friend, I’ve avoided confrontation when I probably should have said something.

I’ve avoided meal planning because it seems so tedious, but then ended up grabbing takeout every night because there’s no plan for dinner.

I’ve avoided organizing the garage because, well, UGH, and then complained that I can’t find anything.

I often don’t want to do whatever feels hard or painful or unpleasant in the moment, but it usually only ends up making things worse in the long run.

Do you do that too?

We probably all do, in one way or another.

There’s a quote I saw recently, that went something like this:

Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose your hard.

Obesity is hard. Being fit is hard. Choose your hard.

Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard.

Communication is hard. Not communicating is hard. Choose your hard.

Life will never be easy. Everything is hard. But you can choose your hard.

Pick wisely.

I don’t know who said it originally, but it’s true.

Every decision we make has consequences.

But the decisions we don’t make have consequences too.

Not choosing is actually still a choice.

So choose your hard.

And I guess that’s my challenge for you this week! Whatever that thing is that you’ve been avoiding, ask yourself whether the consequences of not choosing are worth the pain you’re avoiding. And is that what you really want?

Live with purpose, friend, and have an amazing week!

xoxo, Ruth

P.S. I always LOVE hearing back from you! Feel free to hit reply to this email to let me know how I can encourage you this week!

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