Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Lists. Check.

For awhile now I've kept a list of things to do on a piece of standard paper, rather than the expensive planner system that I never wanted to get messy. When I'm using wedding bulletin covers from 1974 that no one before me thought to recycle, I write more, cross things out, have more space. And I can still recycle them.
All of this is not to say that I've actually gotten more done. I've simply written more down, which I know is a difference. Occasionally -- every couple of days or so -- I'll realize I've done some things on the list and need to add more, so I'll take a new piece of paper and transfer the un-done to the new.
One of the things I know about myself is that making phone calls is never really a priority for me. I'll know that I need to call someone to follow-up, and won't, and won't, and won't. Sometimes it's ok, other times it bites me in the proverbial patooty, and other times I actually make the call.
Yesterday I was about to make a new list of to-dos. And I resolved to not transfer any of the phone calls I'd been shifting from list to list. For the next chunk of time (hour? hour and a half?), I placed calls. Sometimes I left a message, other times I reached someone and it was good. Some of the calls lasted a few minutes, and others were longer and filled with more than ministry, which was good, causing laughter to ring from my office.
I know I'm not reformed -- that there will be more days than not when I'll be overwhelmed and paralyzed by the sight of names to call on my to-do list, but for now it's clear.

5 comments:

Di said...

I'm right there with you on making phone calls. In my case, it's not that I dislike talking to people, it's that I dread just placing the call. Even if it's been requested, I worry about being inconvenient, or not knowing what to say.

Pink Shoes said...

Yep -- I love talking to people, it's the act of placing the call that stops me!!

LoieJ said...

I have the same phone trait you do, often even to close family and friends. Like this morning... maybe I should get off this dial up internet connection.

Anonymous said...

I totally hate the phone.

Mary Beth said...

I detest making phone calls. I need a Valium to do it.

No wonder I keep falling aslee...