It's on the List!

The end of summer is quickly approaching and I must admit, so far it has been a great one. The weather has been close to perfect. My summer job this year was teaching summer school, which was during the month of July, so I had the whole month of June to get a lot of stuff done. When I have things that need to get done, I make a list. Then I’m sure I’ll get everything done. That list I’m talking about is just a list that sort of floats around in my head during the school year. It’s the “I’ll do it during the summer” list. Here are some of the jobs on that list.

            -Clean out and organize the attic

            -Go through clothes and make a Good Will run

            -Plant flowers in the front flower boxes

            -Sew stuff/do the mending

            -Paint Sammy’s room

-Wash windows (who am I kidding? This one should read, “Hire someone to wash windows)

It’s that list of jobs that I’m now saving for a rainy day, but unfortunately (or fortunately), this summer, the rainy days have been few and far between. Why would I climb around in my hot, stuffy attic when it’s beautiful outside?

I’d like to say that I’ve tackled that long list of “to-do’s” that I had planned for myself, but I’m slightly ashamed to admit, I haven’t been nearly as productive as I should have been. I can’t even blame Tom for this. None of the jobs on this list (except maybe the painting), are what I can even say that I couldn’t accomplish without his help. I could say there’s no excuse, but honestly, I’m not lacking for excuses. Some excuses come with time. “Its already 2:30, Tom will be home soon, (5:00), so I better not start a big job now.” So my flower boxes remain empty and my attic stays unorganized. It is so late in the summer now that the only thing that is going in those flower boxes are dead leaves. Although I have been going through stuff in my closet. I currently have a pile of clothes that no longer fit and as I step over it each morning I think to myself “I really need to take that stuff to Good Will.” And then I remind myself that it would make more sense to wait until I have gone through the other stuff (like the attic). Now that it’s August and I have to get ready for school to start, I’m sorry to report that these things aren’t going to get done this summer.  While I’d like to say I was highly motivated, I wasn’t. But what I can say is that I’ve had a great summer. The weather was beautiful and I have no complaints. As for my undone tasks? It’s ok. It’ll get done eventually. It’s on the list.

Update: After the realization that I had previously written about this topic (see “breakcrastination” column). I am happy to report that I’ve knocked out some of the items on the above list! If you’re wondering about the attic and the flower boxes…maybe next summer.