Live and Die by the List

Lists... I love to make lists, I make a list for everything. If I don't make a list, I will inevitably forget something. I once made a list for the grocery store on a sticky note. I got out of the car, there was a big gust of wind and the list blew away... there I was heading into the store at a loss for what I needed. The other day I was cleaning out my desk at home and I must have found 3 or 4 lists. Now, I obviously cannot possibly accomplish everything on my list. Sometimes I will do something, then add it to the list just so I can mark it off complete!

When Gabriella started daycare, I had a list stuck to the door so I wouldn't forget anything on my way out. After a few days, I ignored the list, as if it wasn't even there... and I managed to forget her bottles - twice.

I think I continue making lists because in some way it is comforting. I am a control freak, so I believe making a list of everything I want to get done, somehow makes it more possible. My husband thinks I am crazy with lists, 'Oh no, not another list'... 'Whatcha doing there, making another list?'... yeah, I am pretty crazy with it, but hey there are worse things I could be doing, right?

Last semester I had mini-stickies on the inside of my pocket calendar, listing all the assignments that were due, organized by date of when I wanted to do them. Seemed to work out ok, I did hold on to my 4.0!

You would think with all these lists, I would have already gotten the thank you cards done from our wedding (May 2009), or the baby shower (Oct 2010), or even most recently, the birth announcements (Dec 2010)... I guess these are examples of things that didn't get crossed off the list? Yes, I seem to have a mental block on anything requiring postage! Would it be too late to send those? How about if someone gave a gift for the wedding, and the shower - should they get everything all in one envelope?

Last weekend I made a list of things to get done, normal procedure. I want to say maybe half of the things got done... maybe it's better than no list though... I am never discouraged when I don't get it all done, I usually rewrite it and date it for the next weekend!

Sometimes I think that I make lists so I can stop thinking about stuff. Lists of tasks, goals, thoughts, groceries, bills... all of that, off my mind because it's down on paper!

Anyway, I am sure I am not alone in my passion for the list - I see plenty of people walking around holding a list!

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....blog about lists... CHECK!

p.s. If you were someone who should have received aforementioned thank you card, rest assured, you're on my list! ;)