I am a list maker. For many reasons, I make lists, and I could do the obvious here, and make a list of reasons why I make lists, but I will skip that, as it is too obvious, and it is not really what I am talking about right now.
What’s important is that the other morning I made my list of things to do that day, and along about 2 p.m. when I felt myself a little aimless even in the midst of a chore, I realized, “Oh. A list is not a plan.”
I realized that although I had a nice, explicit list of things to do that day, I hadn’t made any sense of them, and I was spending a lot of time wandering about pondering what to do next and, most distressingly, I was getting distracted.
Okay. I am making up this next part, by way of illustration, but it could be true–that I had this simple epiphany when I found myself re-organizing under the kitchen sink, when I was supposed to be inclined toward preparing for my road trip. That’s when it came to me that although the dust bunnies and cleaning supplies did need some attention (so the chore was invisibly, inherently on the ToDo List), doing so that moment was going to impinge on completing the real tasks at hand.
A list is not a plan.
A simple thought, and perhaps something that other people don’t need to articulate because they just know it. And truly, it is something that I have already learned, but not in these clear words.
A list is not a plan.
And now, to turn some focus to my burgeoning list for 2012, and shape it into a plan.
There are a few things on my mind these days. Quite a few things, actually. Of course at this time of year there is the implicit task of reviewing the year just past and planning ahead for the year to come. What have I accomplished in 2011, what has touched me? What shall I pursue in 2012?
Fortunately for me I am mid-training program for the 5K that I will run on January 27, 2012. So, I am in the midst of feeling the accomplishment of beginning to run (again) and I have the goal of the race itself.
However, this 5K pursuit has spawned a new goal, and I am glad about that, but a little baffled. See, I recently realized that I have been talking, animatedly, about the strides I am making in my training program and about the upcoming event. I realized that I am stoked about the things I am doing leading to the 5K. I am thrilled with the tangible progress I am making, and I am delighted with the novelty of the event.
And so I have decided that I want to–consciously–bring something else into my life that brings me the same sensibilities. I dunno, maybe for other people that is not even a consideration, maybe your lives are bubbling with feeling stoked about your pursuits. But honestly, for me such enthused joy has been missing. Well, at least for any extended stretch–and this new-found happiness with my strides toward the 5K has been rolling steady for many weeks now. That sustained and real excitability feels great; it feels alive.
Now, I have no particular idea what it will be, this next new thing I aim for. I am open to suggestions.
Travel day. Malo to Tonasket to Wenatchee to Leavenworth to Snohomish.
The weather was perfect for a drive. Clear highways, sunny skies.
A combination of winter colors and winter sunlight gave me so many beautiful sights and scenes along the drive.
Even the most mundane things were gorgeous. I wish I’d had a camera better than the one on my cell phone.
And on this morning I had the opportunity to run on a real track and time my mile. I came in at a pace of 11 minutes, and I feel pretty good about that. The minimum pace for the 5K in January is a 16-minute mile, so no worries about that. And even at my current level I’m confident that I can finish a 5K run (3.1 miles). That’s pretty righteous for a girl who started out with a 60-second stretch of running alternating with 90 seconds of running–just six weeks ago.
A little chalk art I spied on my way off the track. Things are moving UP.
At one o’clock I met my lovely friend, Elizabeth for our traditional holiday lunch at the Pink Door. I love the Pink Door–for the tasty food of course, but more so for the eccentric environs. This week for lunch hour, Tamara the Trapeze Lady was performing, and I was looking forward to the added merriment. Lunch was lovely, even if we left an oil stain on the table.
And on the way home I found Tiberio at his house. This never happens any more. Cool.
Dear Spencer,
We have the rare good fortune of having a large, loving family. This is why you have so much excitement about Christmas.
Our family has a collection of holiday traditions, many of them long-standing. Because the way we “do” Christmas is what you have always known, I suppose it is difficult to imagine that our holiday celebrations are rare, but most families do not have the abundance of love and festivities that we do.
Instead, people have shopping. And drinking. And parties that they must attend, not parties that they want to attend.
And this is where the bah-humbug comes in. People who go about Christmas like automatons, and other people (like me) who hope to poke some sense into them–please, please, please, we say, please act with the real Christmas spirit. Please do not just shop ’til you drop and call it done.
Remember how The Grinch lost his bad attitude, once he had loving people with whom to be festive? That’s what we have, but many other people do not.
We have an abundance of small happinesses. We have a multitude of good-memory makings.
We have done the “chores” of Christmas so very many times, that they have become rituals. Even our Christmas-shopping is a ritual, peppered with little rituals. We have such a bounty of rituals. And these are our Christmas wealth.
We are so fortunate.
Love always,
Auntie Lila
Some of our traditions include:
- Making cinnamon rolls with Grandma Sue
- Going to Molbak’s
- Dad unwrapping lights across the lawn & checking for bad ones
- Finding the pickle on Auntie Pam’s tree
- Using festive coffee cups
- Smashing cookies for Grandma Sue
- Seeing a movie with Grandma Wendy
What other traditions can you think of?
