Lists

How many times have we taken a nice, fresh sheet of paper and written “TO DO” across the top? We start with things that simply have to get done. And the list grows. Pretty soon it includes every single unfinished thing in our lives. Organize the sock drawer? Write it down. Untangle the Christmas lights even though it’s June? Write that down too. Oh and don’t forget to alphabetize the spices! List making is not unique to sick people, everyone does it. The trouble comes when we make lists based on what the healthy self could accomplish. Our inner list maker is out of touch with the body. It’s downright unrealistic. The list becomes an exercise in futility. We start, but pain or fatigue or confusion stops us dead in our tracks. Or we don’t start at all. Just looking at the list is enough to immobilize us. Now what happens? We failed. String a bunch of failures together and our already damaged self esteem takes a nose dive. Why bother trying at all? Go back to bed or watch TV. It’s no use anyway.

An African priest told me that your list for the day should be no longer than your wrist is wide. That’s probably five or six things. Keep the list short and then shorten it some more. Can something wait? Take it off. Can someone else do it? Ask them and take it off your list. Take off everything that falls into the category of it-would-be-so-nice-if…the spices were alphabetized. Start the one most important thing on your list. Applaud yourself for starting. Can you take another step? Good! Or try a different approach altogether. Instead of a TO DO list, keep a DONE list. Start with your blank piece of paper and write down each thing as you complete it and I do mean EVERYTHING. Got out of bed, showered, made breakfast, brushed teeth, dressed, opened mail, threw out junk mail, and so on. Look back over your list from time to time during the day. See just how much you have accomplished and be proud. Lists make good servants, but terrible masters.