I have always done some chores around the house. For me they have included laundry, kitchen cleanup and the family finances. My past attitude has been to do them reluctantly, as needed, with an attitude of fulfilling an obligation.
Now during the pandemic, the chores are the same, but my attitude has changed. I am enjoying the smell of clean laundry and the sight of sparkling kitchen counters. I feel proud to have the responsibility and to get the chores done. I am surprised by that.
It is more than having a sense of accomplishment. For me it is about certainty and order. So much these days seems messy, menacing, and, most of all, uncertain. My chores are part of my “normal” routine. They have a daily and weekly rhythm around them. They are finite with beginnings and endings. When they are done, they’re done.
I won’t say that chores bring me joy, but they do provide some satisfaction. They help me feel that I have some control over my life.
What is giving you a sense of control over your life?