Angle of Repose: A Riff in Two Parts

Part 1

• Familiar with the term "angle of repose?"
• (Not to be confused with the novel by Wallace Stegner by the same name.  Great book, by the way.  Totally worth reading.)
• Well.  "Angle of repose" is actually an engineering or mechanics term.  It refers to the maximum angle at which an object can rest on an inclined plane without sliding down.
• I know.
• But I tend to think about "angle of repose" in personal terms.
• Like. . .
• I need to be organized.  I operate best when I'm organized.  I Get Things Done when I'm organized.
• And that means having . . . 
• A (fairly) detailed and current To-Do list, a (somewhat) clear surface to work on, a (reasonably) up-to-date calendar. 
• And it definitely means being able to get my hands on whatever it is I need . . . to get my job done.
• So that's my personal "angle of repose"  --  the angle at which I can rest on an inclined plane without sliding down.
• But sometimes, life throws so much . . . stuff. . . at you that your personal "angle of repose" gets all messed up.  You know.  That plane starts to incline a little too much.   You (the object) takes on a new "form."  You can feel yourself sliding. 
• Because you're totally at the wrong angle.
• Like. . .
• The holidays will do it.  So will a major deadline for work.  Hosting a party will do it.  Health problems will definitely do it.  And becoming a caregiver will, too.
• Put them all together?
• Yeah.  Everything comes sliding down. 
• (In a hurry.)
• Paper piles up.  Things don't get written on the calendar.  Plans don't get made.  To-do lists?  Totally in your head.  Desk surface?  Not in sight.  Email replies?  Forget it.  Wrapping gifts?  Pffffft. . . 
• WAY inclined.  Piled high.  And there it goes. . .
• Sliding. . .
• Sliding. . .
• Sliding. . .
• Too much "object" ...  on an inclined plane .... tipped at a precarious angle ... makes for a bad "angle of repose."

Part 2

• But holidays end.  And deadlines pass.  Parties are fun while they last (but they don't last forever).  And people heal.
• The inclined plane . . . eventually . . . begins to flatten out again.
• And, slowly, you can work your way through the paperwork piles.  Catch up your calendar.  Reschedule what you missed.  (Oops.)  Corral the mental To-Do list on paper (again).  Uncover the desk surface.  Catch up on the email.  Make your apologies.  
• And regain that . . . more normal . . . "angle of repose."
• For now, at least.

Comments

[Vicki]

Oh yeah!!

[Patty]

We've had a similar couple of months! Wishing you a wonderfully angled weekend!

[margene]

My angle of repose is always at the point of sliding off into oblivion, but I'm trying to cut back so when the "stuff" comes along the angle stays just right. Here's to finding repose at any angle!

[Carole]

So true and such a great way of considering what works for each of us. My angle of repose is at a perfect level right now. You know what that means, though!

[Diana Troldahl]

Great metaphor. My own angle of repose includes getting out of the house once a week (kind of a major expedition these days) and making some visible or progress on getting the house decluttered, preparing to move, and/or producing some kind of work. I haven't written a review for a few days, and
I haven't even knit or crocheted for 4 days. Amazing.
Perhaps I'll just hang on and enjoy the ride until my cold disappears :-}

[Marilyn]

The swamped, to much to do, sliding off the edge feeling is no fun. Glad to hear things are "evening out". :)

[Cookie]

Well said!

I'm afraid that if I start tidying, I'll slip down more than I already have. Then again, I really need to close out 2011. *L*

xo

[Mary]

I tend to think of angle of repose while I'm trying to stay at the top of slide, with a huge downhill before me. but your post reminds me that sometimes, having a hill in front of us -something we have to climb - can be helpful...because we have no place to go but up. (and your desk looks better than mine on a clean day :-)