To Do: Making that list & checking it twice.

I love to-do lists.

Anyone who knows me, knows I'm always making to-do lists. Doesn't mean I always get everything done, but it means I am usually aware of everything I'd like to get done. The addicting part about to-do lists is you can clear your head of everything on your mind that you want to get done, and then you can begin marking them off (admittedly, the marking it off is my favorite part). Sometimes it even helps me to re-evaluate my priorities or let go of a 'to do' that really doesn't have to get done.

I usually make a monthly to-do list and store it in my 'To-Do List' folder on my computer. I also try to have a running weekly list in my planner. When I am in high-efficiency mode, I get most everything crossed off the lists. Other times...plans change, routines are disturbed, babies need attention and it is quite alright for the list to remain intact, items unchecked.

I am learning to love the feeling of both. If I do get everything done on the list--WOW, it's a great feeling. If I don't, then I fight the urge to be frustrated with the thoughts of all the things I did do that are just not on the list (and sometimes I add them just to have something to cross off at the end of the day). I am learning that a day of cuddling, changing diapers, listening to the rain, and making up silly songs is definitely as much a success as any other (and likely, more fulfilling)!

I now have quite the collection of To-Do lists. I thought about deleting all of the old ones (and mark it off my list! ha!) but then decided to keep them. I discovered that it is fascinating to go back and review the things on my old To Do Lists...it gives me insight to what was important to me then and what projects I was working on at the time. Like a journal. Or a blog. Only with less words and with some items checked off or marked through.

A writing professor once suggested that To Do lists were a *type* of journal. I like that idea, because I am not as diligent at writing in a journal as I would like to be. So, keep those To-Do Lists, folks...you'll wish you had them when you're writing your autobiography!