Just kidding, of course this is not what it's about, but this sounded funny to me.
Warning: the images on this post have nothing to do with what I am going to write about. I just thought I'd dilute the issue with works by Jerzy Ruszczynski (below) and George A. Jagellio. (above) because they reflect just the proper balance of insanity and brilliance i'm in the mood for.
If you read as much self help as I do, you've heard it by now. We're supposed to take 100% responsibility for our life, replace bad habits with good ones, do what's important first, what's urgent second.
Empowered as I am by my success in nearly eliminating white flour from my diet. (Yes, essentially no more white bread or pasta and the crazy part is, I don't even miss it. I hardly recognize myself in my new non carb-craving form.) I am now ready to tackle some other bad habits of mine.
My ambitious plan is to replace those bad habits with habits that are recognized as grade-A one hundred percent wholesome by me, humanity as a whole, and the universe.
First I have to identify what those bad habits might be. I know I want to get more done, and this starts with defining for myself what is Urgent versus what is Important.
Everything feels so damn urgent. Vacuuming is urgent,finishing that gosh-dang online traffic school is trés urgent, bringing my kid's electric guitar to be adjusted, that's all so very urgent. So are, of course paying the bills and planting that bougainvillea, ditto with removing the chipped varnish on my toe nails, friend calling, grocery shopping, toilet bowl scrubbing,dog walking,homework policing,errands running...
But things get hairy when what is urgent is also a total indulgence: writing this post comes to mind. And commenting on yours. Is that Urgent? Is that Important? I have to ask myself those questions now if i am to break Bad Habit numero uno: Procrastinacione.
Because, if you're not careful--and I wasn't careful, in fact, i wasn't aware-- in the process of getting everything that is urgent done, important things crumple up, wither and die. Important things slip through the cracks of a busy life. Procrastination, it turns out, is not always easy to spot. Often we trick ourselves into the illusion of accomplishment by being busy. I am guilty of this.
What is important? I guess that would be for me what is crucial long term. For sure exercising is important. I haven't exercised this entire summer. I mean I'm I not in this body for the long haul? I want to experience my eighties sans walker if at all possible. Or working on the novel I was sure would be redrafted by now, or finishing the neglected drafts of two screenplays. Those were incredibly important to me but didn't get done because I was busy putting out fires. They were also scary to me. (What if I succeed? What if I fail? What if I sweat.) So I procrastinated. I essentially got nothing productive done over the summer and I'm really beating myself up for this. Yes, beating myself up is both urgent and important.
Supposedly it takes 21 days to to lose a bad habit or retain a good one. If I got this right, all it takes is to stick to it for 21 short days. If I got this wrong and it's 21 months then I'm bloody done for.
I will try to keep you posted on my progresses. Because keeping you posted, now that's important... or is it urgent?
