I awoke this morning to the familiar sound of wind and rain. Well, it’s familiar to this part of the world. I quickly made the decision that I would work from home, a luxury that I am very grateful for and do not take for granted. I am so thankful that I have a nice warm study to work from. I have internet access, the new mobile and a landline. I am contactable and usually have fewer distractions, so I can get a lot more work done. I can then work through my to do list. This list can be found in my filofax, post it notes, my small pukka pad, on the back of opened envelopes and Branflakes packets. Every so often, out of sheer frustration, I will rewrite my to do list on one A4 sheet of paper. This, however causes me to be completely overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the to do list. How can I, on my own, by myself, with only me to do it all, get through this whole A4 page of things (some of which are very important) to do? Sometimes the list has to be continued on the other side of the page. This can lead to great, and I mean great, trauma! When this takes place I want to offload on someone. Preferably a sympathetic person. One whose gifting would lean towards mercy and grace. You know the kind. You just love to be around them, as they are so comforting. They will offer to help too, which is usually declined but gratefully appreciated.
Now, that certain person may not be available and I have at times offloaded my trauma of the to do list to the wrong kind of person. Like, one of those, ‘well you eat an elephant one bite at a time’ kind of person. ‘So get on with it’ and ‘what’s your problem, and ‘so what do you want me to do about it’ kinda, sorta, person.
I tell myself, ‘self, bite the bullet and get on with it’
I look at the list, and make a start. Starting is 50% of the battle. All of you who have ever made the decision to go on a D--T,(four letter word which can also cause great trauma) know what I mean about starting!
Once I have completed a task I tick it off. Oh what bliss. If you have never ticked off a task I highly recommend it. It is one of the most fulfilling and rewarding experiences. You can also put a line through the completed task as well as a tick. This takes the whole experience to another level which I cannot put into words. You have to experience this for yourself.
Up till now I have not been able to get through my list in a day. Some of the listings have WPB (Will phone back)next to them. Some, LM (Left message) and WOT (Waste of Time). Now there are two things you can do with an unfinished list. You can keep it and start a new one which you staple to the old one, or you can transfer all the unfinished tasks to a new list.
If you do this you will not be able to look at the ticks and the scored through tasks. So think carefully before you make any hasty decisions regarding the old list.
I like to hang on to my old lists for a time as it helps to remind me of what I have achieved on my own, with just me doing it all, by myself and no one to help me.
Today I got through quite a lot of tasks and my to do list is full of ticks. I am a happy person.
If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the tasks you have to get through, I want to share this with you.
I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty.
Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.
Life is so daily but it is wonderful.
Nan
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
