Dump truck. The dump. That place is a dump. “No dumping.” And “in the dumps.” There are plenty of uses for the word “dump.”
When in elementary school, I read a story that talked about keeping thoughts positive and not allowing other people or bad thoughts to dump into our lives and experiences. Liking this idea, I made a sign that said: “No Dumping” and pinned it to the Bambi and Thumper rug/wall-hanging in my room.
An international visitor came to our Fort Wayne, Indiana home and was given my room for her stay. Later I learned that she thought I had put the “no dumping” sign up as a direction for her. My parents, knowing the story, shared that I had posted the sign as a reminder to myself about no bad thoughts, and no getting pulled into a negative dump of thoughts. I guess the adults had a good laugh.
In my adulthood, I’ve been heard to say “I am not coming into your abyss” as a reminder to myself and others that I can choose my attitude and my response to others’ attitudes. The first time I remember saying it was driving my fifth/sixth grader to school and she was in one foul mood. I was VERY determined not to have a bad day. So as her crabbiness wore on, and she wanted to know why I was so happy, I said “I am not coming into your abyss because I want to have a good day!” Years later, she remembered this exchange as a help to her own thinking about managing moods.
“In the dumps” moods can come from life experiences, weather changes (like snow in October or too many days over 100 degrees Fahrenheit), less daylight hours, and a variety of additional causes. When I find myself less than cheerful (yes, even in the dumps), I ask myself:
- Did I get enough sleep last night?
- Am I staying hydrated?
- Am I eating as well as I can be to stay physically and mentally healthy?
Often, I find that a “no” answer to one or more of these questions is contributing to my less-than-happy mood. What about you? What contributes to your feeling in the dumps? What can you do to feel better?
A full nest leaves no room for new, good things, people, and experiences. A nicely filled nest keeps us warm, happy, and welcoming new healthiness into our lives. A completely empty nest can leave us feeling cold and alone. Find the balance that works for you and your well-being.
Today, I am literally going to the county dump, also called the landfill, with a pick-up truck (not a dump truck) load. After three years of garage sales, furniture sales, recycling of un-needed papers, donations of still-good items and clothing, and overall sorting, what’s left in the garage has no useful purpose and therefore needs to go to the dump. Thankfully, today’s load is largely compostable – as was last weekend’s yard pruning delivery to the wood-area of the landfill.
What needs to leave your nest and go to the dump?
What thoughts can you say “no dumping” to this week and find yourself living a better life?
Photo note: Whimsical Impressions by Peg Owens is today’s featured card set. When I want to smile, I look at these cards!
Nesting is about the objects and experiences that create a sense of home. Without home, it is difficult to maintain health, find joy, or to be productive. Enjoy the Nesting series of blogs on your search for and creation of a deep sense of home. Also, enjoy browsing NestingCards.com for fun, for gifts, and for joy-spreading possibilities. ~ Jana
Jana Kemp
