All day I have been walking around with a hole in my sock. It is right by my big toe and right now my big toe is through the hole and outside of the sock. It is uncomfortable to walk and today is cold and that toe is cold! Cold in Minnesota means close to “0”. (Fahrenheit not Celsius).
Am I going to die? NO! Is it life threatening? NO! Is it a major issue? NO! But it is aggravating to no end. Every time I take a step, I am reminded there is a hole in my sock. Every time I sit still, my toe gets cold and I am reminded, there is a hole in my sock. Constant and ongoing. Is it a big deal? By the end of the day, it can become one. Especially if I walk a lot or sit in a cold room for long. If I take my shoe off, I am reminded because my ugly, arthritis deformed toe is hanging out of the hole and my toe gets even colder. If I walk with my shoe off my bare toe slaps the floor and reminds me. Right now my life is focused on a hole in my sock. I almost wish I had a similar hole in the other one. At least my life would be balanced.
How many of you have a hole in your sock? Probably not many.
But many of us have small things that constantly take the joy out of life. It can be a small thing. I went to church on Sunday. I didn’t like the music. Took my attention off of a great sermon.
I have a 2009 Toyota van with 190,000 miles on it. Still runs great but when I am going down the road and driving over 60 MPH it sounds as if some leaves are stuck in an air duct. Not loud but on and off. On a 1400 mile trip, it begins to drive me nuts. Makes me want to trade a perfectly good van and get a monthly note because of a small annoyance. We passed through some beautiful country on that trip. I don’t remember much of it but I can still hear that sound. Yes, I have checked the ducts. I can’t find any leaves.
I have a friend that I really like but in a conversation, they edge closer and closer and come into what I consider my “private space”. I edge away. They edge closer. I want to push them back. Sometimes I miss the point of what they are telling me. Sometimes I avoid them unless I am sitting down. Not conducive to an ongoing friendship or communication.
I could go on and on. I have a lot of holes in my sock. You may also. Little annoyances that take the pleasure out of things for us. We make mountains out of molehills and allow them to destroy our quality of life, reduce moments that should bring pleasure and even hurt relationships. I guess it is human nature to focus on the small annoyances and not on the big blessings. I think we sometimes enjoy focusing on what is wrong rather than what is right.
Did I mention that I have an almost new pair of insulating shoes that keep my feet warm in spite of the hole in my sock? That I have a drawer-full of good thick socks that I could easily change into. That I have the money to go to a store and buy a brand new pair of wool socks. Besides, it is only a few hours until I get home and take those socks off. I am 77 and still in good health. That should count for something positive. Tomorrow I probably will not even remember the hole.
What pleasures are you missing out on because of a temporary minor annoyance?