I don't even notice it anymore.

There is a big hole in the ceiling of the mud room in my house. It happened years ago when our roof began to leak. We, of course, did not know the roof was leaking. The plaster ceiling developed a blister which evolved into a bubble which transformed into a bulge until there were bowls and buckets catching the water dripping into my house. We fixed the leak, then Matt cut a nice rectangular hole in the ceiling and used the staple gun to afix some thick plastic sheeting over the hole as a "temporary" fix. Our home is 110 years old and that hole is not one of the major issues on our list of things to do around here. I mentioned the hole to my husband in passing the other day and he remarked that he doesn't even notice it anymore. This hole is about 3 feet by 2 feet - not a small hole. How could anyone not notice it?

That made me wonder about the many little imperfections about myself that I could fix with just a bit of effort. Have I simply chosen not to notice them because that is the easy way out? I am going to choose three things I don't like about myself and make an effort to fix them. I'm not talking about things that will require any type of regiment to change (the cellulite on my upper thighs is another matter for another day) but simply things I can easily change. My three:

1. I never call my friends. I always assume they are too busy with their fascinating lives that do not revolve around diapers and Doritos to have time to simply chat with me. That may actually be true, but they can simply tell me that and I will talk to them another time.

2. I never write letters to my mom. She LOVES to get mail. She wrote me a letter nearly everyday my freshman year of college and two or three times a week for the rest of my days at Ohio University. A little note or a photo of the kids would put a smile on her face that would last for a week.

3. I never stay awake to hang out with my husband when he gets home from work. Matt and I are a swing-shift couple. Even though it is summer and I don't have to go to work, I still maintain my school year hours. Granted, I do have to get up and get Jillian ready for school in the mornings, so I still have to set the alarm and drag myself out of bed. I could, however, get up when I hear Matt pull the car into the driveway. What normally happens is I hear him, get out of Jillian's bed where I nearly always fall asleep, and move to our bed for the next four hours. What I should do is go downstairs and keep him company - even if it is just for half an hour. (This may be the toughest one!)

Tomorrow I begin!!