The Power of the Puny

I'm gunning for a pHD in procrastination.

And while Stanford or the Olympics have yet to validate me with a medal or honorary degree for it, I'm pretty persistent, persevering and patience in my efforts.

Yesterday I woke up to the nine piles of laundry needing done and the dirty dishes hiding in my shower stall in shame.

And I found this fun realm between fear and doubts and procrastination that began taking me through some house of horrors of torturous 'what ifs' and 'if onlys'.

After settling into an RBF and a borderline clean outfit I realized I had to do SOMETHING to mitigate the pain.

A smoking habit or becoming a full blown addict on the street passed my mind before I startled myself and practiced my morning routine with an RBF.

This laid a bit of a foundation and gave me somehow enough energy to then fill up the sink with soapy water.

That being done I put just the mugs, glasses and cutlery in the soapy water to think about what they've done.

Finally and with much more scowling I did said soaked dishes but wow: Every puny step along the way helped immensely while also feeling impossible somehow.

Interestingly I'm on a roll though and with my perhaps ephemeral momentum filled the sink with soapy water again.

Then I sorted the laundry that I had sorted the day before from small doable piles into even smaller ones.

Then I added a said smaller pile of laundry to the sink and let that soak.

After some time I washed it, rinsed it and hung it to dry.

At this point I'm feeling like a regular CEO of my life and ready for all the accolades.

More of the same ensued as I made coffee in my now clean French Press...carrying dirty dishes towards the sink when moving in that direction, stepping outside when passing the door for a breath of fresh air, straightening my posture as I passed a mirror.

These quick little side adventures and began giving me something akin to confidence and gumption, which apparently leads to self esteem and therefore more confidence.

And apparently this is true because soon I was practicing karate and dance again, reaching out to old friends and volunteering.

I thought these thing were beyond my ability even the day before.

The dictionary defines this term 'puny' as weak and at loss. "The pale, puny child." "The panty had dwindled to a puny five cans of food."

But it doesn't define what is possible.

I begin thinking of atom bombs. A caring teacher starting a bicycle club and it changing the trajectory of a troubled kid. An older sister giving her younger sister a hug.

A person broken from a collision who went from not being able to walk to raising awareness for then disabled.

The smile someone gives another, lifting their mood enough to prevent their suicide later.

Someone leaving change for the next person at a laundromat.

I wonder what else is capable, just from utilizing the power of the so-called puny?

Where might one do less of, thereby being more effective?

What is most needed now?