Better late than never

This weekend I finally cleaned the fish tank. It's a lovely, peaceful feature in the living room. Soft light. Sometimes you can hear the very quiet sound of water being recycled back in through the filter with a barely perceptible gurgle. The curved glass in the front adds a graceful touch to the whole experience.

But it's a chore to clean the fish tank. It's such a chore that I've put it off for FAR too long. I really detest cleaning the fish tank, but today, I did it. I really should have done it two months ago. Anyway, I finally did it. Suffice it to say that all the fish lived, it looks wonderful and I feel wonderful about it. Better late than never, I thought, taking solace, comfort and not a little satisfaction in the familiar cliché.

I am fond of clichés. They are ubiquitous for a reason -- they work. They fit a situation. Like stop signs at so many intersections, we grow accustomed to them to the point of superficiality. That is, they barely register because we know what they mean (or, in the case of a stop sign, what to do), acknowledge their purpose with hardly a thought and move on.

So, let me take a moment to elevate the cliché. Clichés sum up the issue in a nutshell. They speak louder than many more words. You may think clichés are unimaginative (sometimes they are) but they get the job done.

Sometimes it really does feel like you are fighting an uphill battle. Life's hard. And it's 100 percent true that you can't judge a book by its cover. Amirite, girls? Guys? Yes, I'm right. Is it better to be safe than sorry? Oh, so many times the answer to that one is yes. On the other hand, you only live once. Again, true, and that might be the cliché that changes your one and only life for the better. . . or the worse. Remember, the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. But then beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Still undecided? Just do it. Actions speak louder than words. You can't please everyone. But look before you leap.

There is no time like the present.

Live your life.

There really is a cliché for every situation...for a reason. We humans all go through the same situations over and over. My takeaway? It's good to know that you are human.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you or a loved one is in an overwhelming situation that feels out of control, please do NOT rely on clichés. Reach out to a trained therapist or trusted loved one and get help. Life IS hard and you are not alone, even if it feels that way. Help is out there.

Peace and love to you in the week ahead.