The Dropsies and Finding Serenity in the Pause
A few mornings ago I had what Charlie and I refer to as the “dropsies.” The dropsies generally mean that I’m knocking over, running into, or dropping a fair amount of what I touch. And it’s more than likely that I will need towels or a vacuum or both before it’s over.
I had spilled water all over my tea tray earlier in the morning during my mindfulness time. When I came inside and headed upstairs to get dressed for the day, I ran into the side of my dresser. Then, when I came back downstairs to get something out of the fridge, I somehow managed to knock over Charlie’s leftover slice of cheesecake and it went splat all over the fridge and the floor. Sigh. Cry. Laugh.
When this happens for me, it is a sure sign that I need to pause, stop whatever I am doing, and check in with where these dropsies are coming from. The origin of the dropsies generally leads me to the awareness of one or more of the following:
I am scattered and unfocused because I am anxious about something I feel I need to be doing. I’m focused on that thing and not present to what I am actually doing in the moment.
I need to rest. Either I have been in “overburn,” working too many hours for too many days, or I am into my day and running and not taking the pauses I need throughout the day.
I rushed through my morning routine, which always means I am not as grounded as I could be.
After cleaning up the cheesecake, and having Charlie lovingly remind me that the dropsies were in full effect, I stopped what I was doing and went upstairs to my meditation spot to be on my own for a bit and check-in.
I knew from plenty of practice with the dropsies that the only way to not continue down this road for the rest of the day was to pause. I was not going to have serenity or peace in my day without this pause.
I know myself and have experienced too many days where I’ve pushed through anyway without the pause and had to clean up a lot of messes; both physical and emotional ones.
I used to tell myself I didn’t have time for the pause or the re-set or the do-over. The truth is, I don’t have time not to take the pause.
Yes, it may take me 20 minutes to pause, check in, and fully re-ground myself, but doing so always allows me to have a better day.
What’s your version of the dropsies? It may be just like mine. Or perhaps it's putting things in the wrong spot over and over again. Something else?
Do you know how to spot it when it’s happening? Can you allow yourself to pause when you spot it?
Noticing your version of the dropsies is the first and most important step to being able to create and allow for serenity in your day when it’s getting away from you. Once you’ve noticed, take your pause and take back control of your day.