Funny thing though, I have started. A few times. Inspired by non-stop thoughts and many times, someone else's inspiration. My only "stranger friend" on Facebook, Jill Badonsky, author of the "The Awe-Manac," regularly pokes at my inner creative creature through her posts. A while back, she posted a list of "33 Ways to Stay Creative." I promptly printed it out and taped it to my kitchen cabinet. To make it easy on myself tonight, I will start with:
#1. Make lists.
Simple dimple. That comes naturally to me. There are lists everywhere. On my phone. In my kitchen. On my desk. In notebooks. On Post-its. Sometimes on my hand.
In my immediate peripheral vision:
- orange post-it on left side of monitor with a list of every month's guaranteed expenses
- orange post-it on right side of monitor with a list of bills that have been paid this month
- in a dried flower photo frame next to the monitor, copy of How to build a Global Community" - a list I photocopied from somewhere years ago
- on the CPU, a list of my 5 strengths from the Strengths Finder test I took tonight
- underneath that list, is a list of both of my boys' 5 strengths
My Google calendar keeps track of everything I need to do, down to reminders to call my loved ones and when to floss. I recently began using the Tasks tool, but am disappointed because it doesn't show up on my phone. I can only see it when I'm logged into Google.
I also have a small spiral-bound notebook that I keep in my purse (which I just recently began carrying around to appear more adult-like). I fought the notebook system for years, but since it's actually #2 on the 33 Ways list, I thought I ought to at least give it an earnest try.
A smaller, basic list chimes at me every morning at 7:00am from my phone:
Fit. Employed. Student.
This was created at the urging of my Daily Challenge email from www.meyouhealth.com a while back. Picture yourself three months from now, they said, and write down three words that describe you and display where you'll see them frequently. Bam! Google calendar, by way of my phone.
Well, I began exercising with Julian and Tony Horton, but have since let that trail off a bit. OK, a lot. But I am employed and I walk a quarter mile from my parking spot to the office. Oh, did I say that I am Employed? And that comes with medical benefits, which ties in to being Fit. And while I consider myself a constant student of life, seizing all opportunities to learn, I am now officially re-enrolled in college, continuing my pursuit of a degree as a Student of Psychology.
In between all this big stuff, I have also managed to check off a number of other things on various lists, such as...
plant two trees in our yard (with the help of both boys)
plan this year's garden (though prepping the garden is still on a list)
fix a sprinkler (with the help of handy brother-in-law)
replace an electrical outlet (with the guidance of a handy dad and neighbor)
return a bed to its owner
move the piano (with the help of Bran)
remove all the grass from the tiny strip next to driveway (with help of both boys)
plant flower seeds (can't wait to see how it looks!)
spray paint kitchen table chairs (thanks boys!)
complete taxes
meet with school counselor to put together an education plan
find opportunities to enrich my world (and the boys' world) - joined a hiking group and completed foster parenting classes
many many more things!
Of course, there are still things that are not done, like...
complete FAFSA rebuttal and update for this year (must do next weekend)
pick up car from body shop (next week)
craft generous thank-you scheme for friend who loaned me his truck
hang picture frames in blue room (been on the list for two years)
paint boys' bedrooms
repair boys' closet door wheels
repair backyard sprinklers
Of course, there are the ongoing things like exercise more, yell less, vacuum, grocery shop, blog.
I know every single one of you out there has lists that equal, or even rival, my lists. It's a wonder anything ever gets checked off working full time, right? I am extremely grateful for the past fourteen months of unemployed bliss. It allowed me to get my lists in order and make a substantial dent in my to-dos.
While this post may not be my most profound, it was the first step I needed to take in order to get going again and, dammit, it's sufficient. Getting and staying in the habit of writing on this blog has been difficult to say the least. I have every excuse...I don't have anything to say; I have too much to say; I don't know how to say it without peeving off some peeps; I'm too cold; I shouldn't be spending my time writing for fun when I have a billion other things to do.
But you know, writing makes me feel good about myself. I am really proud of myself every time I complete a post and see that people have actually read them. I really love it when people comment. Recently I have been learning that we should be spending less time correcting our weaknesses and more time cultivating and applying our strengths. So, onto my list that went:
apply my strengths - check
Tell me, what's on your list? Can I help with anything?
