Fruitful Words

On Twitter you have 140 characters to answer “What you are doing.” Because so few words are available, I am forced to succinctly organize my thoughts.

I just posted the following:

Housework, school, body aches & Retreat details need addressing. Wondering how to organize my week for maximum effectiveness, joy & peace.

Now that I have succinctly written my thoughts, I can now blog about a solution in as many words as it takes.

Overwhelmed. That is the major feeling from the tweet I just posted. Since I am feeling overwhelmed, I jotted down on my white board what needs doing in the 4 categories of . . .

• Housework
• School
• Body aches
• Retreat details

I then chose the #1 item in each category.

• Housework - Clean up from trips this week (Living room and kitchen)
• School - Research for Premillennialsim paper
• Body aches - Make chiropractor appointment & walk (Okay so this is 2 things, but I will read while I walk on roommate’s treadmill - unless I trip and add to my body aches.)
• Retreat details - Gather/print out all information and put in one place for meeting with Reggie

Looking at this list, I realize that there are many steps involved in each category. So I wrote what needs to be done for each category - one item per slip of paper.

For example, Housework slips include . . . .

• Put away sweaters
• Put away suitcase
• Clear off desk
• Clear off table
• Put Goodwill items into car
• Sort out sand dollars (put in bleach water to soak, wash towels)
• Put away dishes
• Wash dishes
• Take trash out
• Wash beach blanket

I put these many slips of paper in a orange-colored gift bag. This time I chose to keep the categories separate. Sometimes I mix the category slips of paper all together into the same bag.

After I am finished with this post, I will set the timer for 30 minutes. Then I will pull out one piece of paper: read it and DO what it says until the timer goes off.

Then I will “reward” myself for about 20 minutes. Unfortunately, I hardly ever reward myself. I think this lack is one reason why I have a hard time accomplishing things on some days.

I am too hard of a task master on myself. When I add the “rewards” to my day, I find that I have more joy.

Here are a few rewards I could get used to . . . .

• Eat a nutritious meal.
• Chat with a friend.
• Read a chapter in a “fun” book.
• Take a shower.
• Rest on an ice pack.
• Write a note.
• Water my garden.
• Say out loud, “Job well done, Susan.” ( I probably wouldn’t do this for 20 minutes. I think that then borders on megalomania.)
• Pray.

Then I’ll start the cycle over again with the timer and the orange bag of “job” slips of paper. Every finished slip of paper, brings me closer to peace. I’m trying to learn to live in peace even amidst the unfinished tasks of my lie.

So what do you do to help yourself when you are feeling overwhelmed and in a procrastinating mode? How do you organize your week for maximum effectiveness, joy & peace?

“I never wear a watch because I always know it’s now - and now is when you should do it.” Steve Mariucci, San Francisco 49ers Head Coach

I have so many items on my to-do list that are NOW  items. Instead of trying to do them all today, my question to myself is . . . .

. . . . What 2 things will make the most impact by their completion?

Sigh of relief - only 2 things. That is my promise to myself.

I need to make 2 phone calls. I don’t like making phone calls. Silly, isn’t it?

What 2 things would most impact your life? If you share, I’ll be praying for you.

______________________________________________________________________

P.S. I never wear a watch either, but that’s cuz I’m allergic to metal.

I woke up with this thought, “Seek first the kingdom of God.“

My New Testament prof told us “the kingdom of God is wherever God’s will is being done.”

So my to-do list is down to one main principle - doing God’s will. Still hard to figure out what to do at times.

Maybe pondering the following question will help . . . “Is it really worth the life of our Lord, what we’re doing? (by David Lowes Watson)

“I valued accomplishment.”

“I valued being special.”

“I valued results.”

“The driven part didn’t question or examine these values.”

“It took them as real, and believed it was following the carrot “success” [and the road "righteousness"] wholeheartedly. Didn’t everyone believe in success? I never asked, “Success at what cost?”"

“A part of me is quiet.”

“It knows about simplicity, about commitment, and the joy of doing what I do well. That part is the artist, the child - it is receptive and has infinite courage.”

“But time and my busyness drowned the quiet voice.”

The above words are from Plain and Simple (page 5) by Sue Bender.

(more…)

Choosing the wrong values and too many of them have led me to an unfocused, frenzied life.

Too many choices . . . all lining themselves under the appropriate lists of accomplishment, special, and results.

Too many choices . . . more and more calling at my life’s door. Each beckoning me into its grip of more.

I’ve collected these choices (some very good and noble) and added them to my to-do’s. Now surrounded by piles of varying heights of accomplishment, special, and results. And righteousness - not all my choices are indiscriminate.

Indiscriminate: Having no particular pattern, purpose, organization, or structure.

These piles, my plies, have their own voice and their own demands, much like frisky kittens aloof, attacking, and affectionate, alternating, without seeming reason. And not knowing which to tend to first, I tend ALL or none.

Paralyzed by the responsibility of responsible choice, I make none until forced.

Procrastination covers the piles like a blanket muffling their cries for attention.