Probably just needs a fresh coat of paint
Several people I know are getting ready to put their house on the market. But before they do, they are going around and fixing all the little things that have been broken so their house is more attractive to prospective buyers.
Makes sense. Sort of…
Now, let me just say… I’m not pointing fingers. I’ve done the same thing when I’ve tried to sell a car. I’ve spent the extra $25 dollars to fix the squeaky whatever so I can ask $200 more. But why have I waited?
Why do we tolerate things that annoy us for so long only to fix them when we’re no longer going to have them anymore? Why do we make things nice for someone else, but not for ourselves? Why do we invest in other’s comfort and happiness but forget to invest in our own?
Yes—please be nice to other people. Yes—please don’t sell cheap, broken crap or pass off your problems to someone else. But also don’t wait. Don’t wait to care for yourself. Make something nice for yourself and then keep it. Enjoy improving your world around you. Enjoy making your life a little more tidier… a little more organized… a little less squeaky… a nicer coat of paint… a new set of curtains… a new friendship… end a bad friendship… experiencing a new experience… dance because it’s fun… go see some other part of the world… fix the brakes on your car… buy a different car that actually makes you smile when you drive it… finally say what’s needed to be said for years… whatever.
Stop Asking For Permission
Children learn to tolerate rotten situations. They have no other options and no power to get out of them. They can’t get away simply because they can’t put a roof over their head, or food on the table, or clothes on their back. They have to depend on the adults in their lives and tolerate whatever weirdness or painfulness that comes along with having their basic needs met.
But, as adults, you no longer have to tolerate or endure things you don’t like. I’m going to say that again. You don’t have to TOLERATE or ENDURE your life. Sure, you can’t have everything you want. That’s not how life works. But you CAN have better than you have right now. And tomorrow can be better than today.
Adults don’t need to wait for permission to make their life better. You already have it. What would you like to do with it today?