A house is not a home until you unpack (everything)

Happy Friday everyone!

Since I officially started work on Monday, I am so glad the weekend is finally here.  On another end I'm a little nervous/excited to begin work with my students.  They arrive so soon, it's exciting, but scary at the same time.  I just want to be the best teacher I can for them this year and I want to be better than I was last year.

I am taking a little break from work as I finish my lunch.  We had three hours to spare due to bad timing with the school board. I need to be back at 1pm to finish organizing things for the first day of school.  I am almost, almost, almost ready.  I think.

Delicious Cobb Salad.  The sprinkle of gouda cheese made it extraordinary.

I've also started moving small things.  I think I'm going to continue to move three more boxes I packed up last night.  They were all pretty easy to pack up because much of that room had been left unpacked all of last year.  Can you believe this?  The spare bedroom in my apartment consisted of boxes that were left unpacked, winter clothes, and a desk I never used.

All year long I kept putting off unpacking that room.  When two dear friends of mine came to visit me in October they were supposed to help me unpack it, but I still refused.  When my mom would come to see me she would attempt to help, but I never wanted her to touch what I had in there.  I became so territorial about this spare bedroom with all of these things that were sentimental to me.  Old cards, college books, old binders filled with work from college, inspiring letters from friends and family, desk items, etc.  I spoke to my good friend Leigh Anne last night and she laughed when I told her I was packing up because all year long I never wanted to touch that room.  She also told me, "I knew you were depressed last year when you didn't want to touch that room, you didn't want to settle in your own space, and that isn't like you."  Her words rang in my ears, she was right, something about leaving that room packed was comforting to me.  Maybe the fact that I could put it all in my car and go at any time.

I know, it's not a good state for a room to be in for a year.
You can spy the three boxes I packed up.  The room looks cleaner now.  

The humorous thing is that when I arrived at my apartment last week with a different state of mind than when I left in May I felt the need to finally unpack that room.  The room haunted me in it's packed state.  I wanted to paint my desk and organize things.  I guess I'll be doing that in my new house :)

I've also began reading my latest book.  I hope you follow with me.  I promise to give a better review of "Tiny Beautiful Things," but not until later tonight.  My latest book is called "20 Something 20 Everything"

The perfect book for all of us avoiding an expectation hangover.  I really like that the book comes with interactive exercises or "homework" to complete as you go.  I really think that in order to get the full outcome of the book you have to do your assignments.  I have already started the exercises and they are great reflections to help understand yourself and why you are the person you have become.  This is awesome for those who don't mind a little therapy/psychology every now and then.  My friend Gladys and I are reading this book together and plan to discuss our answers to our exercise questions weekly or biweekly.  But, if you are a woman in her 40's or 50's I'd love to ask you some questions for my current exercise.  Please leave let me know if you're interested in the comments section and we can exchange e-mails.  

 Today's thought of the day, I guess a house is not a home until you fully unpack.  I have a feeling I will be unpacking at my next house ;)

What are you doing on this lovely Friday?

Are you between the ages of 40 and 60? Can you help me with my next exercise for my book?