Sometimes, I get so overwhelmed by all the things I want to say that I cannot write a word. Sometimes I am so overwhelmed by all the things I need to do, that I wander around starting and abandoning tasks. If I can choose a priority, I’ll start there, but often everything seems important. Sometimes nothing does. When that happens, I look for something small and worthwhile I can complete, just for the feeling of accomplishment. Just to get some momentum going.

Today, it was peeling an orange. I’ve never been good at peeling oranges, but I’ve learned I do better when I make a small incision with a knife before removing the peel with my hands.

I don’t know what I was thinking about or worrying about, but I looked down at the counter and was surprised to find that I had taken out a cutting board and removed three quarters of the peel with the knife–as if I were planning to cut up this orange and serve it with pomegranate seeds and grapefruit slices on Christmas morning.

The juice had run off the cutting board onto the counter, but I was surprised to find that I had done a good job of removing the peel and pith without wasting too much of the fruit inside. I cut the last of the peel away, pulled a fork from the drawer, and ate the orange off the cutting board with the knife and fork while standing at the counter.

I enjoyed it so much I grabbed a second orange from the refrigerator and ate it the exact same way.