Slightly Off the Grid

Something on my to-do list that never gets done…that is a tough one to answer. Which to-do list should I consider? There are so many.

There’s the daily list of things that I need to do to feel like I’ve earned the air I sucked up all day. This list is the most flexible. It changes daily, and I change it at will during the day. Hey, we all know that if we do something that’s not on the list, we just add it to the list so we can check it off. Even the most couch-potatoey days of scrolling online add impressive items to the list. This was my productive day yesterday while lying on the sofa:

Order Valentine’s gift for the kids.

Research patio furniture. This, I can tell already, is gonna take a lot more research. Good thing I’m retired.

Create a reading list for free books on Kindle Prime.

Create another reading list for books I’m willing to buy on Amazon.

Add movies to my Netflix queue.

Research every ache, pain, malady that my body is experiencing at the moment. It takes much study—along with experience—to get the Dr. Mom degree, which I already earned while raising children. I am currently specializing in inflammation of muscles, nerves, and joints.

But that’s all well and good for a daily to-do list. I have so many more.

There’s the de-cluttering project to-do list. There is no time deadline on this. I get to it as cabinets drop things on my head. Top of the list right now is the linen closet because I pulled a pillow case off a shelf and got buried in table linens which lie in a pile on the desk in my room until I deal with the disorder which I have to do before Thursday when Mirna comes to clean.

Oh yeah, that’s another to-do list—the things I need to do before Mirna gets here.

There’s a list of house projects that I would like to do, am waiting for funds and/or motivation to do, or started and forgot to finish.

There’s the garden and yard to-do list. That is similar to the de-clutter list but on the outside. I’m thinking I need to put “rent a dumpster” at the top of that list.

Ah, but that list overlaps with the honey-do list—that list I keep of projects I want my husband to do. It’s a long list of things I can’t do myself. A very long list.

Then there’s the list of things I ought to do as a kindly person but that I just don’t wanna do, mainly because I’m an introvert, but I can’t blame everything on that. I blame some things on being a hobbit (like snacking). Introverted hobbit or not, there are some things I just don’t wanna do. Sometimes the Holy Spirit really knocks me over the head about something, so I do it. The Holy Spirit is more effective than the gentle suggestions of my husband. I tell my husband he’s being a nag, but you can’t say that to the Holy Spirit.

So, there are many to-do lists, each with items that never seem to get done. With so much time on my hands now, you would think I’d be tackling the to-do lists with vigor. Ah, but there’s another list. The most important one. And here’s what’s on it:

Stop and smell the roses (or, at our house, watch the honeybees).

Take your time.

Don’t multi-task.

Go outside and play.

And that’s what I’m going to do—right after I make the bed.