Little things do mean a lot

16 years ago

Georgysmom posted a comment in the lawnmower thread about isn't it amazing how the "little things" make us so happy, and it's so true. I'm still a little aglow about getting my taxes done!

History: I had been putting them off because one form I need doesn't arrive until the end of March and I like to do the taxes all at once. This year I had planned to have an accountant do them since there were some extra issues this past year. I got really busy at work and had 12-14 hour days for a couple weeks. Just too exhausted to do them. Then I got a bad cold that really knocked me out for about a week and a half. Well, the deadline was the 15th and I had to either do them or file for an extension. Unsure if I'd owe I had to do some figuring so I started with the intention of seeing what I owed so I could file the extension. I had tried (as I usually do) to keep everything in one place as it came in the mail but with all the hassles this year (which I won't go into) I feared that I didn't have all the stuff I needed and would have to call and try to get duplicates, hence another need for the extension.

Whew! OK, so about 6am that fateful Friday morning I started gathering things and sat down. Time was ticking. Kept calm thinking I could even take a break or two since I had 18 hours until deadline. Started plugging everything in and amazingly I had all the stuff I needed. It did shock me. I guess I had prepared better than I thought, and moreso, had maintained and followed through with putting stuff in one spot as it came in. A couple envelopes marked "Important tax documents" were in the stack and had the forms I feared needed a duplicate request. It made my day! And was quite a relief. And it didn't take as long as I feared. Talk about a picker-upper! Then the whipped cream was being finished before noon (including calculating different ways, double checking things etc) and even with the extra complications this year, I still get a small refund. After taking a deep breath, getting a big smile on my face I also realized that the cherry on top was I saved the cost of having an accountant do them. And I guess the sprinkling of nuts on top was saving the postage too!

These days, getting little things, albeit still important things done can be *so* satisfying.

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Comments (7)

Georgysmom
16 years ago
Getting taxes done in my household is no little thing. DH spends weeks mulling over them. Doing them, redoing them and redoing them. I wouldn't even know where to begin. I did want to comment on the cold, though. I'm on day five and it never ceases to amaze me how miserable one can feel with the stupid little common cold. I manage to get one every couple of years. This one came on so fast I was shocked. Went out to dinner Wednesday night, felt fine. Was suppose to play in a golf charity tournament on Thursday, but woke up at 1:30 a.m. feeling miserable and it only got worse with every passing hour. I can't imagine having to tackle something as big as taxes feeling like this. Put away a little bit of that return for a bottle of bubbly and celebrate!
cynic
Original Author
16 years ago
Yes, they come on quick. I was surprised since I've been trying to be a bit more careful lately but you get a bug and it can take you down a notch or two. But I don't get colds (or flu for that matter) often anymore so I guess what I'm doing is working.

Yes, I'll celebrate the little things. Although I enjoy the simple things anyway.

Get yourself a lot of rest georgysmom, and don't let yourself get dehydrated! That takes things from lousy to totally miserable.
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Georgysmom
16 years ago
I will take your advice on the fluids but rest? I did rest Thursday, Friday and Saturday but Sunday I had to grocery shop,bake and clean. Will admit it took everything I had to get the kitchen, great room and powder room clean but I had Book Club at my house this morning. This afternoon I played bridge (I won, hooray) and tonight I tried to tidy up the rest of the house and pack because we leave for D.C. tomorrow returning home Wednesday night. Thursday I have a luncheon and Friday golf. Not much rest in sight. I just need to get better. Not feeling great but my energy is coming back.
liz
16 years ago
YOU GO GUY!! I know that was a fabulous day and being done by noon really was icing on the cake!! Isn't it wonderful how the little things we do seem to mean the most!
dotmom
16 years ago
You are so right, friend Cynic. We are lucky. our Library offers free tax help with knowledgeable volunteers. , for seniors. Hubs is the one who gets the stuff organized, and we take it down there. Then our taxes are filed electronically. We then give the librarians a thank you note with a donation to the library. This service means a lot to us and i'm sure other seniors. Hope you are feeling better, kiddo. Dottie
joyfulguy
16 years ago
Congrats on having got everything in order ... and on getting the whole mess whipped into shape ... by noon!

Enjoy the rest of the year.

See if you can find a niche or two that'll save you some, come next year.

ole joyful
cynic
Original Author
16 years ago
Well Joyful the sad part is while I was doing them there were a couple things I could have, make that should have done, had I thought of it and acted sooner. This year has just not afforded the time, so it costs in other ways. Lesson learned.

Little things do mean a lot

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Little things do mean a lot

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