To Do List Conundrum

Getting organized is a great idea, but only so long as it leads to action and progress. In my own case, I've found that too often I spend time making "To Do" lists, prioritizing them, attaching notes and early ideas for action to the items, and then moving on to other matters, acting as if the making of the list accomplished the jobs. Of course, I know better, and the thought that a project or a task is done never actually enters my mind, at least consciously. But the upshot of my list making, my behavior, has not been to lead me down some nicely ordered path toward having accomplished the things on my list.

In the making of lists
is hidden a risk
It's surprising, and subtle,
but real

For writing things down
can make one a clown
to the sense they're now done
that we feel.

So what's the lesson? Fewer lists? Less rigorously ordered lists? More time DOING things and less time making lists? Yes, probably all of those are good ideas. But maybe it's simpler yet.

My Dad used to work in a job that required him to travel several times a year, often for up to 6 weeks at a time. As you might imagine, his inbox would be filled when he returned from a trip, and I recall asking him one day how he managed to deal with all the things that had backed up in his absence. I figured that as he had been successful in his career, he might have some powerful insight to share on how he organized his time and attention. "Well", he told me, "I just pick up the top item on the pile and I deal with it. When I'm done with that, I tackle the next item."

Does anyone else share my penchant for over complicating my life?

Could this be next?

Recently, as I approach age 65, and with the business where I work probably in line to be sold within the year, I've been thinking a lot about what comes next. Like so many others, I've thought about traveling some, but that only goes so far in filling time. And it is not a life, not a reason to get up in the morning feeling motivated, and needed.

Muhammad Yunus no doubt arises each morning with a strong sense of purpose - a mission really. He's the creator of the concept of micro-credit - making small loans to poor people to enable them to begin to pull themselves out of poverty, and to begin to build a new way of life, based on micro-businesses.

Consider the work Dr. Yunus has begun, and is doing...

At the Yunus Center
http://www.muhammadyunus.org/

And in loaning money to the poorest of the poor - with fantastic results.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxpTFwQx-A8

So I wonder, in the spirit of "And now....", can I help here, learn from this man, and build on it with my professional and life experience?

"A journey of a thousand miles....."

I came across this today, and it seemed like something I'd like to remember......and share.

So for all those who might be interested.......

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will.

You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken.

You'll fight with your best friend.

You'll blame a new love for things an old one did.

You'll cry because time is passing you too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love.

So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back.

Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.

- Anonymous