As we’ve continued to unpack, it has been easy for me to get overwhelmed.  Every once in a while I will open one of those boxes that was packed in a hurry towards the end of the packing process which contains three dirty socks (no matches), an iPod cord, a coffee mug full of loose change, twenty-two Legos, and a tube of toothpaste.

A survival tactic that I’ve employed recently is “accentuate the positive.”  Let me give you a few examples.

Here are two shots of the new kitchen.

Ahh, the top of the cabinet.  A lovely tableau of green glass jars and my oversized Ball jar.  So peaceful.

And in the other direction, the beverage station/buffet. Kinda makes you want to scream and pull your hair, right? Quick, look back up above.  Ahh, all better.

Let’s try it in the dining room.

Here’s my teacup collection housed on the freshly polished hutch. I don’t like that lamp sitting there, but it’s not offensive.

Now take a few steps back.  This picture was taken a few days ago, and I tell you truly that the table looks WORSE and not better today. Go back to thinking about the teacups.

Opposite the dining room…

The library.  A cohesive collection of commentaries.  Everything is lined up.  And there’s that dumb stuffed turkey wearing a mortarboard that my husband refuses to discard.  Everything is in its place.

Except down here.  Down here nothing is in its place and everything is very upsetting. When will I get to vacuum this rug?  Maybe today?

So there you have it:  my handy coping mechanism for the unpacking process.  It also works for children.  Don’t like the yogurt-smeared shirt your child is wearing at co-op?  Maybe his socks match.  Look at his socks.