Part of most days for me includes writing out a “to do” list, a practice I’ve developed especially when my schedule may be hectic or quite frankly, the perils of aging that can bring on moments of forgetfulness or fear of neglecting to do something that may cause anxiety if forgotten. So, part of my early morning routine is to grab my small notebook that I use for making my list of things I want to get finished before sitting down in the evening to relax and unwind, to reflect on what my day held. Depending on the day of the week, my list certainly will vary. Some items or jobs that show up are: Food prep * Send card to ____ * Text or call ____ * Laundry * Sweep Floors *Agenda for _____ * Groceries * Exercise 

I always cross off the item when I’ve finished the task. I’ve been known to perform a chore that wasn’t on the list and go so far as to add it to the jobs for the mere satisfaction of crossing it off! When discussing with my friend Tiffany this silly action, she admitted she does the same thing! What is with that? How can a small act like that bring a smile to my face considering it’s always done in private and certainly no one is the supervisor or manager of my own “to do” list? Whatever the answer, the bottom line is the good feeling I experience when my pen draws a line through each item on my list. Throwing all logic of trying to understand the human nature behind adding and eliminating things from my list, I know I will continue to work my list in this manner.

Another form of lists comes to mind now that we are in the Season of Advent, the weeks leading up to Christmas. Many families use gift lists as a way to communicate the things each person “wishes”, “wants” or “needs”. When I first joined my husband’s family, my mother-in-law asked me for my Christmas list. This was new for me. My parents never shopped from a list; they chose their gifts based on making choices they thought we kids would enjoy. My MIL was from a different breed; she preferred to purchase near exactly what each person wanted. So, in 1980 I gave her my list of ideas. At least, I thought that’s what I was doing. I gave her a piece of paper with about 6 or 8 “ideas” written down, expecting she would choose 2 or 3 and call it good, done. To my surprise–and embarrassment–she bought just about everything on the list. Little did I know that as a member of my new family. I found myself feeling embarrassed, as already stated, but worrying that I saw her as an opportunist to meet my selfish wants. I had woven some humor into my list, too, by including at the bottom of my list “Mazda RX7” (my favorite dream car ownership at the time) Not to ignore my humor, she bought a model size version of the car….causing a good laugh and cherished memory forty some years later…

I find now that, unlike my parents, I enjoy getting Christmas lists from our own children. They include many great ideas, but one thing has changed. They aren’t written down on paper any longer. They’ve taken on the look of an email or what happened this year, lists drawn up through the technology of Amazon’s site. It was amazingly fun to sit at my laptop, click on items to add to my cart, watch the item disappear from their list, and update for whoever would shop next. Wow, we’ve come a long way from scraps of paper and pens. What hasn’t changed is the joy of buying what each person “wishes”, “wants” or “needs”.

Yes, I use lists. I enjoy making lists. They keep me on track with time management and come in handy when perusing the grocery aisles. Of all the habits I entertain, making and using a list is one of the best activities to help me feel focused and gain a sense of accomplishment at the end of my day. In the past, I’ve posted an ongoing grocery list on our fridge and imagine my chuckles every time I read my husband’s handwriting down in a corner, “smoochies”….

Today, I made my “to do” list after my personal connection time with God. I will do some food prep *cards are ready to be mailed *no laundry until my husband can check the wash tub which overflowed earlier in the week * banking * get in a walk (mail those cards) * write my  blog (check!) * order a couple more Christmas gifts…..and look forward to each item with a line drawn neatly through it, an indication of another day full with small chores that bring big rewards and a smile to my face as I sit down later this evening under the warmth of a throw blanket and cup of hot tea to seal the moments of jobs well done.