I was at the grocery store last Sunday watching the cashier carefully arrange my purchases in the reusable red bags when the the lady looked up and said, “I used to play a mean game of Tetris.”
I gotta give her credit, she really must have been good at it because she got all my stuff in five bags. No small feat for the weekly Morgan grocery run.
As I muddled through the subsequent days–and I do mean muddled–I kept thinking about the cashier constantly reassessing and shifting to make more fit. Then it hit me…
My life is a game of Tetris.
When did that happen? I distinctly remember a time–a long, long time ago, mind you–when I would get off work at 5pm and the space between clocking out and waking up in the morning could fall however the universe needed it to.
Need to pick up something on the way home? Maybe stroll through the on-sale cosmetics at the drug store? Take an extra minute or two to peruse an article in the magazine subscription you picked up in your mailbox? Sure, why not?
And it’s more than just schedules and appointments I’m rearranging. It’s relationships. Commitments. What I should/should not participate in. Yesterday, an invite went out at work to participate in a day-long, charitable event. It’s a worthy cause. One I’d like to volunteer for.
But there are only so many empty pockets to work with.
So what gets moved? What other cause goes without? When the blocks get too backed up, I find myself re-evaluating obligations much like I spring clean my closet. What’s adding value? What’s not? What’s in the best interest of my family? My career? My spirit?
On one hand, I think such re-evaluation is healthy. A time-forced assessment to ensure I’m only spending my time where it feeds me/my family most.
Then again, I kind of miss the leisurely stroll through life. The peace of being in the moment and not worrying about what block comes next.
What do you think? Do you play Life Tetris? Or do you take it as it comes and not worry too much about lost time and efficiency?
6 Comments
CJ Burright
June 12, 2014 at 4:36 pmI feel more like Pac-Man…trying to get all the little white dots done before the ghosts corner me. But then there are those few “whew” moments after eating those little safety things in the corner and you can relax for a second or two. It’s been awhile since I played, Pac-Man, okay? I can’t remember all the technical terms. 🙂
Rhenna
June 12, 2014 at 7:36 pmThe kids got Pac-Man (and Ms. Pac-Man and Gallaga) to play on their iPads. Needless to say, mommy got to play first. For a VERY long time.
Suzanne Vince
June 12, 2014 at 4:52 pmLove the analogy, Rhenna. I can see the pieces flying from the sky and landing haphazardly. Feels like my life right now, too. I think I’d be better off if I actually kept a to-do list rather than trying to keep all the pieces floating around in my head.
Rhenna
June 12, 2014 at 7:36 pmTrust me when I say, the to-do lists almost make it worse…because then I can keep adding to them. LOL
L. E. Carmichael
June 14, 2014 at 7:22 amTetris all the time over here. The only problem is, I seem to be playing the advanced level, because every time I find a block to eliminate, three more fall from the sky!
Rhenna
June 14, 2014 at 7:53 amI hear, ya! Wonder if we can find the settings and go back to beginner mode. Or switch to candy crush.