We will never finish everything on our to-do lists. It’s not possible, and that is life! ~Susan L. Taylor
Do you make lists of things you want to get done? I do. Sometimes then I do lose those lists in the papers that seem to reproduce on my desk. I might come across the list weeks or even months later and feel relieved if I accomplished the things I’d listed or if I didn’t, I might transfer them to a new list.
Other times, I’ll see the list or reminder and it won’t tell me enough to remember what I was supposed to be reminded about. I looked at my notes on my phone last week and there was a name. Obviously I put it on there to remember that person for some reason, but now I have no idea who the person is or what I was supposed to remember about her.
We are all so busy with so many things pulling at our attention. Do this. Watch that. Learn more. Don’t forget. Hurry up. Get it done.
So when writing a blog post was on my list today, I needed to find a list of ideas about what to write. For some reason, that made the quote in the picture I posted come to mind along with that mystery name I obviously don’t remember. Sometimes lists don’t do the job. Sometimes they do. It can give you a feeling of accomplishment to mark something off your to-do list. It’s a great way to keep your deadlines in front of you so that you won’t let them slip by unnoticed. As long as you don’t lose your list, that is.
I didn’t find a list of idea for blog posts. Instead I pulled up my file of quotes and more that I have used over the years in the bulletins I do for my little church. I started keeping that list so that I wouldn’t put the same hymns in the bulletin for us to sing every other week. Then I started adding the quotes I use in the bulletins to try to make them interesting, inspiring or perhaps worthy of a smile.
Tonight, I scrolled through the list looking for the list quote about making lists. I ended up not finding it the first time through since the quote about lists doesn’t have “list” in it. But I did find some other good things to share.
Be a warrior not a worrier. Create a list of all the times you’ve gotten things you didn’t think were gettable. When faith is lagging, lug out this list. ..Karen Salmansohn
What a great idea to help us remember the good things! A blessing list or an answered prayer list or a dreams come true list or goals accomplished list. Name it whatever you like, but it would surely be a list to treasure.
Then this was a gratitude jump-start list I must have come across sometime to help my church family remember some of the everyday happy pleasures of life.
- Bumping into an old friend
- Raindrops on petals
- A child’s giggle
- A good book
- Shared laughter
- Dragonflies
- Soft pillows and sweet dreams
- Starlit nights
What would you add to this list? I might say a walk in the sunshine. A kitten’s purr. A dog’s wagging tail.
Last of all, because my search word was “list” and that brought up everything with listen in it, this story popped up. And since it could be on a list of things to make you smile, I’m sharing it too.
A nurse on the pediatric floor, before listening to the little ones’ hearts, would plug the stethoscope into their ears and let them listen to their own hearts. Their eyes would always light up with wonder, but she never got a response to equal four-year-old David’s. When she gently tucked the stethoscope into his ears and placed the disk over his heart, she said, “Listen. What do you suppose that is?” He drew his eyebrows together in a puzzled line and looked up as if lost in the mystery of the strange tap-tap-tapping deep in his chest. And then his face broke out in a wondrous grin as he asked, “Is that Jesus knocking?”
While I’ve wandered a bit here and there on my idea of making lists, maybe it all ties together somehow and I can cross writing this blog post off my list tonight.
What kind of lists do you like to make?
Comments 14
This time of the year I like to make a list of new flower seed I might want to order or pick up in a store to plant in the spring. I make a list of books I read and books I might get lucky enough to win on someone’s giveaway on facebook. I keep a running list all week toward my grocery buying day of things to pick up. At Christmas time I make a list of gifts to buy and things I need to do. I have a list posted on the wall behind my computer to tell me what holidays there will be no mail, to keep myself from going to the mailbox on those days. (Sometimes, I forget and go anyway!)
Author
I like that you make a list of new flower seeds you might want to try, Connie. I’m imagining your beautiful flower gardens. Interesting that you keep a list of the books where you’ve entered giveaways and I admire readers who keep a list of the books they’ve read.
Sounds as if you have list making skills. Oh, and sometimes I go check the mail on holidays too. But then I don’t keep a list. 🙂
What I really need a list of is picture files on my computer so I can find a picture I know I have when I want to use it here on my blog. I sometimes search and search for that perfect shot that I know I have somewhere.
Thanks Ann, you always make us think.
I make grocery lists, clothes I’d like, certainly books.
I also make lists of the books I need to review and where to post them. Upcoming books for the next few months, lists of different genres, such as WWII, Civil War, Time Slip, award winners.
A lot of times the lists get lost on my work table.
So , I make new lists.
There is satisfaction in marking them off!
Happy reading!
Author
I’m with you, Paula. My lists get lost, then I make new lists. 🙂 As much as you read and review, you do need to keep lists. It’s interesting that you list the books by genres. I wouldn’t have thought about doing that.
I hope my new book will be on one of your lists soon. I need to gather a list of readers who would like to talk my book up to other readers.
I’m a list maker too. I make grocery lists because invariably if I don’t, I forget to pick up something I really need. I also make lists of errands so that I maximize my efficiency and don’t waste time retracing my steps; accordingly, I group errands in the same part of my community. I also don’t want to forget to stop somewhere important on the list. At Christmas time, I print out a list of people to whom I want to send cards/letters and mark them off as I’ve sent them. That way when I receive a card from someone, I know whether I’ve already sent a card to that person or whether I need to do so. I definitely make lists of books I’ve read and also books I’ve ordered and received so that I don’t order multiple copies of the same book by mistake.
Author
I admire readers who keep lists of the books they’ve read, Suzanne. I’ve tried it a few times, but then I forget to write one down. My sister has a list she’s kept up for years, and I’ve met readers at book fairs who bring their notebooks with them so they won’t buy duplicate books. I’ve also heard people talk about downloadable apps you can use on their phones. List making in the technology age, I suppose. Sounds as if you’re good at lists and using them efficiently.
What a fun blog this is!!! I love how one thing leads to another, and another.
I do make lists.I make lists of things to do, I love to mark them off the list as I get them done. I also make grocery list from time to time, although during the pandemic I have started grocery pick- up at Wal- Mart , so now I don’t have to make that paper list to carry around the store( or forget and leave home on the counter).
I make list for my husband to pick up things at the store. I also make Christmas lists.Every year
Thanks again for the fun blog!
Author
Ah, yes, the marking things off those to-do lists are the best part. I make those grocery lists. I used to be able to make the list and even if I forgot and left it at home, I’d remember what was on it. Now, not so much. I think my circuits have gotten too busy up there in the list remembering areas of my brain. LOL. Glad you enjoyed the post, Lisa.
Oh, and I do make extensive Christmas lists to make sure the grandkids have some neat gifts at my house and that I don’t give my grown up kids the same thing every year.
If a windstorm ever blows through my house, I’m in trouble. Lists will fly!
Thanks for the fun-filled and uplifting information.
Author
That’s funny, Diana. I’m seeing lists flying everywhere now. Thanks for stopping by.
I make lists of everything! I have a list of To Do sewing projects taped up next to my work table. I have a grocery list on my fridge….one of those magnetic tablets, where I jot things down that I need. A good friend gave me a “Sew much fabric, See little time” journal book where I write down ideas and sketches for new projects. I have a list on my phone of things that need to be updated on my website. And I have a prayer journal. It’s great to go back and read through that one from time to time and discover how many prayers have been answered…and sometimes thankful for unanswered prayers too.
I love your quotes this Monday morning, Ann. Now I need get busy on my weekly list of To-dos. 😊 Have a wonderful week!
Author
You are definitely a list maker, Lavon, and sounds as though a successful one. I keep a to-do list and that grocery list on the fridge too. I also jot down ideas for something to write about here on my blog posts, but then those are the ones I seem to forget where I put the list or what I named it on my computer. Can make for some interesting surprises when I do find the list or pull up the right file. I think I’m going to learn to be a better list keeper after reading your comments and those of others.
Ann
I definitely need you blog tonight!
Thank you so much!
This last year has been maybe the worse ever and the new year isn’t looking promising either.
I have always made list with about as much luck as you seem to have had.
I love the suggestion about lists of ,answered prayers, blessing, etc.
Starting tonight my lists will be something I will write in a journal much easier to keep at hand.
Author
Sounds like a good plan, Gail. I used to keep a journal about my writing goals and how I was doing with them. Had a lot of disappointments I could cry over in there too. But it always helped to be able to “talk” them out in my writing and that helped me get perspective. Once I started blogging, that seemed to take my journal writing in a different direction. Could be I should pull that journal out and make it a blessing journal. I did always count my blessings in my journal each New Year.