Friday, December 30, 2011

Let's Talk Lists

Are you a maker of lists?
Are you one of those strange creatures that lists things that need to be done and then crosses them off as things get accomplished?

I, fortunately or unfortunately (how ever you choose to view this), am not a member of the list makers club. Lists scare me. My mom, on the other hand is a compulsive "list-er" she has lists OF lists.

I am not sure why lists scare me so. I think some of it is the fear of failure, of not being able to draw a line through that last thing on my list. Because, hey it doesn't matter how many actually got crossed off I still wasn't able to do it all. And now you all have some idea of my thought processes. You are welcome.

I do have mental lists...sometimes. But those, sadly, are not exceptionally effective.

What about the "BIG" list? The one that comes up over and over this time of year?

You know...

Resolutions.
Goals.
Intentions.

Do you make a "BIG" list?

Again, I have done this mentally in the past and, again, it hasn't worked exceptionally well for me. I've heard it said that it is good to write things you want to have happen down. I'm not sure why that is. I'm sure there are studies.

I can hear what you are thinking "If making a small list of day to day things scares the bee cheeses out of you how are you going to handle making a 'BIG' list?"

Honestly?

I don't know. Because this "BIG" list? It scares more than the bee cheeses out of me. A lot more. I mean if I'm worried about failure on a day to day level how am I going to feel about failure on a much larger scale??

Unfortunately or fortunately, I'm really feeling the urge, the push, the prompting (if you will) to do this. So I'm throwing caution to the wind and joining the throngs of list makers. Here goes...
  • Get to know myself better
  • Stop comparing myself to others
  • Do something physical for 30 minutes 6 days a week
  • Complete the "Couch to 5k" program
  • Run in the Dirty Dash
  • Spend more time with my mom
  • Work on my photography more
  • Develop a deeper relationship with God and Jesus Christ
  • Give blood
  • Be more aware of those who are around me
  • Go hiking more
  • Become more organized
  • Blog/Journal on a regular basis
There it is. My BIG list. And in order for me to remember this list I'm going to put it on my sidebar. Because let's face it. If I don't it will just get buried and become just another blog post and I don't want that. I really want to be able to cross things off of this list.

If you are making a BIG list what are some of the things on yours?

Come on. I showed you mine.

7 comments:

susette said...

Hey, hi there! Thanks for stopping by and visiting my blog today. I love your list of things to accomplish.

That is quite a list you have there. I love the exercise ones. Those are goals right up my alley.

I'm making a list but still trying to figure it out for 2012.

Cynthia said...

I also avoid lists. I have culled resolutions down to a 'word of the year' for the past 2 years and I'm now on my 3rd word of the year. Look at your list, find the common thread and then just use the word that encompasses all you want to do. This gives you flexibility and challenges you to find ways to implement the word. My word last year was 'cultivate' as I wanted to nurture and grow various areas of my life. Try it, it makes it easy for us non-listers!

Funky Kim said...

The main reason I make lists is so I don't forget anything. I don't stress if everything on the list doesn't get done. That stuff just gets moved to the new list. I just go crazy when I feel like I'm going to forget something. So I write it down and away goes the stress.

wendy said...

That's a GOOD BIG LIST.
You see....I figure If I don't write mine down , or share them, then I haven't really Committed to them....RIGHT???? (cop out for sure)
so shhhhhh
here are a couple of mine
much like yours
FIND ME
work on my relationship with the Savior
EXERCISE and eat better
try to just be more dang positive.

but don't tell.........

AND I am thinking, if you are going to JOURNAL more, perhaps we'll see more blogs from you????

Monica said...

I am a major list maker. It helps me get everything out of my brain that needs to be done, and I love checking things off when they have been accomplished. Funny though, I don't really ever do New Years resolutions or that type of list. Your list was inspiring. Maybe I should start?

Brooke said...

I'm a total list maker, and I love your idea of posting it on the blog for accountability sake...I may just have to copy you on that! :) Thanks!

The Kooky Queen--Rachel said...

I love your list! I am definitely NOT a list maker. It's a bad thing too because I'm also forgetful and probably wouldn't be as bad if I'd make a list. But I'm lazy too, so I won't. :)