In our “third chapter” conversations at the Council on Aging, we talk about many things; among them the number of years we expect to live, and how we want to feel useful and fulfilled during these years. We want to make sure we are doing enough of what we love…whatever it is that keeps us sane and happy. For me it is writing and teaching, for another, leading a group, for another, gardening, and another, doing the activities on her bucket list while she still has the energy.
However, the ignored “to-do” list of the “sooner and later” tedious things, always seems to find its way into our conversations. We know there will come the time when we will wish we had planned for the desired job shift; that we had eliminated the residue of the past from our file drawers, sorted and named the photos which only we can do, placed our treasures in good hands, executed a living will, talked to the doctor about advanced directives, or written our life story. Tedious though they may be, each is a creative act, and a necessary one. Still, we note with dismay that distractions too often take priority. And then another year or two or five passes.
I came upon a blog post from Leo Babuta.
Overcoming the 10 Biggest Obstacles to Creating: zen habits
Avoiding important tasks are clearly habits I recognize in myself. You may, too. Babuta suggest that sometimes it’s necessary to just bite the bullet. May he inspire you to just set aside time to start, keep going, finish the project and feel absolutely wonderful about it.
In any case, it’s never too often to say out loud what’s really important, give it a place on the calendar, and ask a friend for support. (My paperwork to execute the after death donation of my body to the UMass medical school is sitting on my desk and calling for my attention…still.)
Okay, I’m saying it out loud. This weekend. I commit.
I’m proud to say that I DID IT…at least moved it along. And in no small measure it was due to that fact that I dared to announce it, in public.