Thursday, December 27, 2007

Lacadaisical is accurate...

but greatly reminds me of a name of a bland popsicle.

I've been pondering my 101 List and when I look at things on there, I'm finding more things that I should do, rather than what I want to do; and things that have arbitrary completion. For example finding silverware or a new table requires participation on the parts of stores and designers to provide me with pieces of interest. It also seems contrary to my goal of reducing my huge piles of knick-knackery and reducing my commercialistic life style. They also require that I have money to spend on these items, when my desires and needs shift without relevance to lists that I just made up. So I've decided to adjust my 101 list at some point. I've left all of the long-shots, things I probably won't do or can't afford, but deeply want to do, just as goals for myself.

I know that it is against the rules to change the list, but this is my blog, the only realm over which I am the all-powerful, so you'll all have to live with it. I actually believe that doing things that you want to do is the spirit of the 101 project. So nya.

In other list related thinking:
I'm not a person who really believes in the list thing, I think maybe you can figure that out by reading the previous section of this post, but I think maybe I should write down the things I really want in my life. Maybe instead of turning in circles bemoaning my lack of future plans, I should be working harder to discover them.

If anyone has any other ideas of ways to find direction in life, I welcome suggestions. It's funny, I'm busy trying to motivate my tutoring kid to get good grades, to get into a good culinary school, to become a chef, when I can't even figure out what to do with myself (but we'll just keep that our little secret).

4 comments:

Jim said...

Meh, the 101 lists are intended to be fluid, I think. There's no sense in using it to force yourself to do something if your interests have shifted (gingerbread house? seriously, i don't know what i was thinking), or you're trying to be more responsible (re: lowering consumerist vibe). Provided you're not modifying it to wuss out of trying to do something big that you still would like to do (visit 3 foreign countries, for instance, on mine). As long as you're using the list to expand your horizons, improve yourself, etc, then you're using the list right, imho.

Now I will relive past glories by referencing the Journey Burger:
*hums* any way you like it...

technogreek said...

First off, I edit my 101 list on a regular basis, it's natural as your life ebbs & flows, so should your list. It'd be silly to keep on there items that no longer interest you because you wrote them down once.

My list includes a few things that I hope to do one day but don't think I'll get to before my time is up (I mean my 1001 days, not my time, you know, on this earthly plane). I don't know whether I should take them off or is it better that item #101 ("Finish This List") never gets crossed off? I'm just not sure...

As for a way to find direction in life, well, to continue this nautical metaphor, I'm in the same boat and feel adrift quite often. I just rely on the fact that I like my life, my friends, my family, and all the detail bits will somehow work themselves out.

qtilla said...

Holy cow! This comment page is Jim-tastic!

But Demon, I don't like to think of myself as a boat. Perhaps a shiny sleek kayak. A kayak on the way to do something awesome. Some destination that it knows ahead of time.

Damn nautical metaphors!

Anonymous said...

Jesus people. If nautical nonsense be something you wish, just lie on your belly and flop like a fish.

As for finding direction in life, you should grab your compass and roadmap. Yes, I'm talking about the bible. Flip it open, and on the first page you see, locate a passage that catches you eye. Personally, I use this. Then apply it to your life.

For instance, I got... Proverbs 25:21-22.
21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
22 for you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the Lord will reward you.

So, I'm going to go make my brother a sandwitch and a beer, and then dump coals on his head. I will be rewarded. See? It's that easy.