Life Flipper

My best friend not only gave me a place to stay after my divorce (Wanted: The Ronald McDonald House for the Recently Separated), she also provided me with the best line ever when people needed to know something about my situation but I didn’t want to get into the whole messy tale:

I’m in the middle of a major life renovation.

It was perfect. It implied major change but also had a way of discouraging further questions.

It felt like the life renovation from hell. It was like I purchased a home that passed inspection only to find out years later that the foundation had fatal flaws and dry rot was eating the home from the inside out.

I traded in my well-manicured life for one that required hard hats and knee pads. I had to tear my beautiful life down to the studs and slowly rebuild as I was able.

For a time, I stood in the remains of my life and stared in disbelief at the carnage. I remembered it as it was. I wanted it as it was but it was impossible to recreate what had been destroyed. Eventually, I began to have a vision of what it could become. It didn’t need to be the same. I could rebuild my life better than before.

I kept some things the same in my new life. Other areas no longer served me and I chose to eliminate them altogether or repurpose the space for something else.

It was a slow process. I had to fight the urge to decorate my life before I secured the structure and patched the holes in the roof.  I had help on more days than not, my family, friends, coworkers and professionals stopping by to raise a wall or sand a rough edge.

Slowly, my new life began to take shape. The new only vaguely resembling the old.

I may not have anticipated this major life renovation, but I knew that with the right tools and the right help I could succeed.

And I have. The foundation is solid. The dry rot is gone. The walls are sturdy and the windows clean. Now I get to do the fun part and add the details that make the house a home and the life MY life.

Forget Flip My House. I could be the star of Flip My Life.

And, yes, if you can’t tell, I still have paint chips on the brain:) Should be moving in less than two weeks!  My challenge now is to pace myself so that I don’t get sick(er)…I wish I could meet all my new students for the year without also meeting their germs!

 

Thank you for sharing!

9 thoughts on “Life Flipper

  1. A great analogy!

    On the other hand, isn’t it amazing how quickly our immune system ‘forgets’ the germs of the classroom? *hands you a tissue*

  2. Let's CUT the Crap! – Canada – I'm getting a little LONG in the tooth and have things to say about---ouch---AGEing. I believe it's certainly a state of mind but sometimes it's nice to hear that you're NORMAL. I enjoy reading by the truckload. I'm a grandma but I don't feel OLD although I'm not so young anymore. My plan is to stick it out as long as I can on this lovely planet and only will leave it kicking and screaming!
    Let's CUT the Crap! says:

    Love the comparison. I might need to steal these lines for other situations. I believe they would work.

      1. Let's CUT the Crap! – Canada – I'm getting a little LONG in the tooth and have things to say about---ouch---AGEing. I believe it's certainly a state of mind but sometimes it's nice to hear that you're NORMAL. I enjoy reading by the truckload. I'm a grandma but I don't feel OLD although I'm not so young anymore. My plan is to stick it out as long as I can on this lovely planet and only will leave it kicking and screaming!
        Let's CUT the Crap! says:

        I like blessings. Thanks.

  3. I love this and may have to use it. I feel like the whole “I’m in the process of a divorce” thing scares people and I’m tired of those “poor divorced you” looks.

  4. As one in the midst of a major life renovation, I will most assuredly use this line in the very near future.

  5. “Eventually, I began to have a vision of what it could become. It didn’t need to be the same. I could rebuild my life better than before.”

    Love this. Inspired!

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