We’re stuck. It seems that life is like one big clogged drain pipe at the moment. Only a trickle can get through.

Have you ever had times like this? When, despite all your best efforts, everything takes an inordinate amount of effort to get happening? Everything that could go wrong, does. And delays abound.

Each individual incidence doesn’t seem like much. The landscaper who was meant to start fixing the paving on Tuesday (after waiting months) - and will now start next Monday due to hold ups on the previous job. The new hot water system meant to be delivered Tuesday so our builder could get it installed Wednesday being lost in transit & finally delivered Friday. The old hot water system leaking all remaining hot water out on the ground this morning - and no electrician to wire the new one in until Monday (looks like cold showers this weekend). The money I was owed from a maturing options account that took three months to get paid (finally, on Thursday!) with constant follow ups. And I cannot forget the phonecall from Leah whilst I was at the supermarket on Tuesday night - Leah who was on the homestretch to getting The Calm Space right for launch on Monday 1st October. Leah with no internet connection for three days.

There’s more too, but that’s enough for you to get the picture!

So this morning over breakfast (before discovering the leaking hot water!) G and I were talking about stuckness. Silly thoughts - like the full moon this week and black cats crossing our path. And more serious thoughts. Thoughts about what is causing the obstruction.

And what lessons we are to learn from the stuckness.

Whilst it could be patience - I have a feeling that isn’t it. I don’t think all this is about being patient (although, admitedly ours has been sorely tested a few times lately), and I don’t necessarily think it’s about all good things come to those who wait (another option we explored).

It is my feeling that the stuckness is about what space we need to clear in our lives - what things or thoughts we need to shed (like a dog shedding its winter coat) in order to let new growth and opportunities into our life.

In order to clear the drain pipe of the obstructions stopping the flow, I believe we need to eliminate clutter in all its forms from our lives.

Last weekend (after a two week delay, naturally) we ordered a skip bin - six cubic metres of emptiness for the throwing of rubbish. Bliss for a couple who really like to clear the decks. We spent most of last weekend tossing stuff into the bin - all the debris left from the bathroom renovation, lots of junk from the shed, and so many cardboard boxes! And I took a boot-load of donations to Lifeline as well. Woohoo.

Today, the truck came and carted the skip and all the rubbish away. I don’t think we’re quite done with clearing the decks just yet, though. I think we could have filled twice that size skip! But oh boy, it feels good to walk out the back door and see pathways and gardens rather than piles of debris!

I am hoping that maybe now we’ve recognised there was a blockage and actively looked to see what we could learn from it, things will start to flow smoothly again.

Have you experienced anything like this?