Monday 19 September 2005

scheduling fanatic?

When I was a kid - 3rd/4th grade - I became a scheduling fanatic. (just a short time after I realized I could make lists for everything.) I know this sounds unbelievable to everyone who knows that I am almost always running behind and late. But it's true, I would make schedules for myself down to the minute. Then I would realize I forgot something and that schedule would end up in the trash after just two days and I would create a new one. This would happen off and on...I would create the Uber schedule, it wouldn't work and then I would give up. *sigh* The problem is in the scheduling of every single minute with every single activity I thought I needed to acomplish EVERYDAY. *laugh* Of course it was overwhelming! Details, details!! I'm still this way (who knows how many personal planners I've had. *snort*)...not with the scheduling mind you, I avoid it mostly because I haven't figured out how to do it without overwhelming myself, but I still have this desire to have the details mapped out and then fixed in stone. If I plan for something to go from 10:30 - 11:45 I want it to begin at 10:30 and end at 11:45! I'm all for the occasional spontaneous activity, but I guess I like to plan for it. *Laugh* I love how Phileas Fogg has his routines down to the second for his daily life and yet is still able to leave it behind for a 80 day journey around the world. You just can't schedule life in a family that way. Well, some say you can and should, but I don't think that's healthy - I mean, I know rigid when I see rigid - and yeah, that's RIGID. *laugh*
Anyway..the reason I'm thinking about this is that our family is making a go of a weekly routine of sorts. I'm doing my best to let it be. To let it be simple and not go mad with it. It's hard tho...what we have is a very simple morning routine for waking up, breakfast, clean up, etc. Sounds good. This really gives continuity to our day and week. But then Tally called and asked if I wanted to go with her to the Y and work out in the mornings...so...we are supposed to meet for thirty minutes and today we met at 6:30. It was GREAT! I loved it. *smile* And the need to schedule more into the morning began....what about my bible study that had been going great in the morning? I'll need to get up even earlier if I want to get that done, and 30 minutes just wasn't enough, I'd like to have 45 minutes for the gym....and I really prefer to shower after working out instead of waiting till the end of the day....and we are just meeting on M,W,F...but what about T, Th? I really like to have continuity when scheduling - sort of an equalibrium. (no, I don't like to place things off center either. *laugh*) So, I have a need to schedule some kind of work out even if it's not at the gym - and now I have a great opportunity to use the work out vidoes I just had to have....and of course there's other things that need/I want to be done (ie. laundry, learning caligraphy, sewing, etc.) and scheduling them seems like the best thing until I remind myself that things NEVER go as scheduled, in my life anyway, and I will get extremely frustrated when my schedule doesn't work out....so...
*sigh* I WILL NOT BE SCHEDULING ANYTHING OTHER THAN WHAT ALREADY IS. (As much as it goes against my nature to do so.)
Well, except those extra workouts, a shower, and my bible study....
*laugh*

I guess what it comes down to is falling short of my ideal. I never seem to be able to attain my ideal....I detest falling short...I detest not reaching the goal I have set. I know someone is going to say that's part of being human - falling short..sin and all that...well..I find no consolation there.

2 Corinthians 13:11 (New International Version)
Final Greetings
11Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.


Hebrews 7:11 (New International Version)
Jesus Like Melchizedek
11If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still need for another priest to come—one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?


1 Corinthians 13:10 (New International Version)
10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.


Thank You, God!!

2 comments:

Mama Heffalump said...

*Phew*! Although I've never been been a "to-do" list person I have always liked knowing what I'm going to be doing, where I'm going to be going and how long I'm going to be there. After I married my fly-by-the-seat-of-his-pants husband, I realized that I could be a little more flexible in my thinking... I have to work harder at it at times... like when we go out for toilet paper and end up in another state... LOL!

Amy Pearson Photography said...

Christy, you are just perfect! I love your honesty. I'm sitting here smiling, knowing what you go through every day, and knowing the struggle of setting goals and then not meeting them. Argh. Are you sure you're not me in a parallel reality? :-)
I've found a balance of having a structured day and mingled with spontaneity in prayer. When I start my day off on my knees, honestly asking God to guide my steps, I'm amazed at the difference. I find myself focusing on surrender, because He's the one who's planned my day. I just need to be available to do what He wants. So I got about my lists with an expectation of Him working.
Wow. I need to go pray, to get that into my brain again. Because too often I get frustrated when things don't go "my way." Why can't the world just revolve around me? It sure would be easier, wouldn't it? LOL