I am a list maker. Every evening, before I go to sleep, I make a list of everything that I have to do the next day. I number it from 1 to 10, or 1 to 5, depending on how many items I need accomplish for the next day. My lists are comprised of mindless items, like picking up milk at the grocery store or scheduling car maintenance to items that are more rewarding, like exercising and making time to write. If I put it down on my list, I am more likely to complete my tasks. I’ve noticed on days I don’t write it down, I procrastinate and put off my to-do’s to the next time I make a list. The thing I love most about lists are crossing off items I have finished. I take my red pen, gliding the pen across the words, and immediately I feel a sense of accomplishment, even though the tasks on that day may have been trivial.
There is one important drawback in this sense of accomplishment. I am so focused on trivial details of my everyday to-do lists, that I haven’t made my Life To-Do List. There are “higher” goals in this life I want to accomplish. I think about these goals in my head, but I haven’t made a point to write them down. I know fear is preventing me from writing my goals down. I am as fearful of success, as I am of failure. There is always a chance I might fail at reaching my goals, but an equal chance I might succeed. I realize if I meet my goals, then what? Will I be more happier meeting these goals than not? I don’t know.
The key in these lists is giving some thought to life’s purpose. Everyone can write arbitrary goals, random goals, concrete goals, well-thought out goals on a list, but if they don’t contribute to an overriding purpose, then what has really been accomplished? I know it easy to get mired in details, the mindlessness of going from one task to another, but although it might be acceptable to put off certain to-do’s, thinking about life’s purpose can’t be trivialized, it is why we exist. It may help answer the important question on all of our minds: “What is the point?”
Welcome! I am a lawyer turned freelance writer, essayist, and editor. On staff at Literary Mama and the co-founder and co-editor of the literary journal, The Sunlight Press, my essays and reported work have appeared in The Washington Post, The Lily, Saveur, Civil Eats, Brain, Child, ESPN and elsewhere. I am currently at work on a memoir on grief and culture and how it provides perspective on life’s ordinary graces. I invite you to appreciate the ordinary with me. I hope my daily practice of seeing the magic in the mundane helps you celebrate and find more of these moments in your life too.
Rudri that is the kind of list I have always failed to write. Even at school I could never articulate and answer to the “what do you want to be when you grow up?” kind of questions. Even now I still don’t know the answer to that one.
Hi Ru! I’m a list maker too, although not to the degree of discipline as you, preparing each night for the day ahead. I find now after kids, that I have to write down even the mundane things or it won’t be remembered. This irks me so much, because before kids, I was able to maintain 3-4 different to-do lists in my head at any given time, as well as have a visual dynamic calendar in my head at all times.
But yes, I write things down like going to get the milk, and yes, I get the same satisfaction of “checking it off” the list. Some times I wonder if I make the simple lists for that very reason, just to feel accomplished. But I am also like you (and Katy it appears) in that I haven’t ever put together the “big list” – the things I would like to do before I die. A funny part of my personality is that I consider myself such a planner, and yet can’t ever see out in the future past 2-3 years. I don’t have long range vision, or perhaps if I have a vision, I don’t visualize the steps to get there. I let a lot of things go happenstance as a result. It’s worked for me thus far. I’m not sure it’s what is needed to really accomplish the bigger things though. I guess I will have to be happy with marking off the milk until then.
Nice knowing your perspective on this Kristi. Hey some days getting the milk can be a great accomplishment.
I am a list maker too and you hit the nail on the head about making the trivial everyday to do lists. That is why i always dread the question “where do you see yourself in the next five to ten years?” because really i have not given it too much thought. I usually answer that question with i hope i am happy and healthy! Maybe that is the purpose of life ….
Sandhya,
You are right – health and happiness are goals that will always remain on the top of our minds. It is trying to define how to achieve both of those things that provides the greatest challenge. Thanks for reading!
Rudri,
Definitely!Must!!! Write down your goals. If you don’t set goals to strive for, it will be very difficult to succeed. Good point. I like it. I tell u my family secret I’m telling Nimmu & kids making a list.They telling me what do u talking about??
Regards,
Dilip
Dilip Bhai,
Glad you agree with my post. You have to set goals periodically through your life – we all need something to strive for! Thanks for all the positive comments about my posts.
One of my favorite things is checking things off my to-do list, too… so much so, that I usually include an item for “Write To-Do List” and check that one off right away 🙂
I agree with you about needing to write about your broader, long term goals along with your daily ones. Even after checking those off, though, I think there will always be another goal to strive for.
Looking forward to the next post!
Suni,
Thanks for the comment. I think the bigger problem becomes what to when we check off that last thing, but as compulsive list writers, we will always come up with a new list of somethings!
I need to be a list writer, they really do help, but I am so awful at them!!