What is it about lists that are so comforting, especially once things are checked off of them?
I had a long list of things to get done today. Some were significant. Most weren't. Many didn't really accomplish anything at all. But, I was able to check them off the list so I feel pretty good about the day.
This list did bring a few changes in my life. For example, I now have text messaging on my phone. The other items on it did not do much of anything.
Most things were just odds and ends like getting the new fliers for the church ready for printing. Mind you, I didn't actually get the fliers printed, folded, and distributed, but the "ready" line on the list is checked off.
Some things on the list were surprisingly expensive, like my meeting with the plumber who found nearly $3K worth of problems leaking onto my kitchen ceiling. (He also tells me that I'll need a contractor to fix or replace the ceiling once they're done with the pipes.) You would think I would feel depressed or angry or sad about this, but because it was on my list, I feel good that it's checked off even though the work hasn't started yet.
For me, I think lists are sort of like the odometer on a stationary bike. No matter how long I peddle, I haven't gotten anywhere. Yet I can feel good about myself because the numbers on the dial are higher than when I started.
In a life that's often chaotic, frustrating, and going as far as a stationary bike, a checked-off list gives me just enough of an illusion to get a good night's sleep after a "productive" day.
I'd better get my list ready for tomorrow.
Thanks for reading,
Jeff
No comments:
Post a Comment