Bryan says this to me all the time, and it usually makes me want to pull his hair out. It makes me want to pull his hair out because by the time he gets the opportunity to say this to me, I’m already in some sort of panic stricken state about a large Pile of Things Left Undone, and I hardly know where to begin.
And I don’t know about you, but when I get into a panic stricken state over a deadline or a huge Pile of Things Left Undone, I need you to tell me what I want to hear, and I need you to do it yesterday, and I need you to do it without the commentary. I am like Hammy, the crazy squirrel from Over the Hedge, zipping around with my screechy voice, wondering where all the nuts are.
This is not the Way of Bryan.
Bryan is calm. He is collected. He is rational. And he always says to me, “Baby, just do the next thing.”
I’m getting to be this way, slowly, and usually not of my own accord. I still need someone (ahem, Bryan) to tell me to slow down and just do the next thing.
And by the time I sheepishly pick his torn tufts of hair up off the ground, I usually have a clue what that Next Thing might be.
Hey, it works for me.