OK, hang on, I need to clarify - what's the longest something that you do actually want to do has been on your to-do list?
My personal record is four years.
Yup, Laura McDonald, planner, to-do-er and goal achiever had something on her list for FOUR YEARS.
It's even been on my 100 Things To Do list EVERY YEAR since 2011. Seriously.
For as long as I can remember I've kept scrapbooks - like before "scrapbook" was a specific hobby that soccer mums did, involving special tools and stores and all that crap. I mean that I kept ticket stubs and napkins from restaurants and stickers and all that junk and stuck it into notebooks with a gluestick.
And I still pretty much do it the same way. Except that I've been stuck. Since 2011. I literally had boxes of memorabilia from March 2011 up until, well - yesterday! Because I never got around to doing the 2011 book.
I had the photos all printed. And since I had the 2011 photos printed, I had this story in my head that I couldn't print any more photos to do another year until 2011 was finished.
Problem was - 2011 was when I got married. And then had the most amazing honeymoon road trip across Canada. And I met my inlaws for the first time, and I lived in Germany ... and most importantly I was outrageously head-over-heels in love.
... with someone who for the last two years or so, hasn't been a pleasant energy in my world. Someone I don't like to think about.
Someone I wasn't real jazzed about spending a weekend reminiscing about.
But, finally, I did it. First off, I prepared my time - I knew I had the whole weekend where I wouldn't need to leave my house so I could make an enormous mess to sort through 4 years of ticket stubs, brochures, and a heap of other crap. Second, I prepared my environment - I acquired FOUR Channing Tatum movies, wine, chocolate and pizza delivery menus. Third, I prepared myself - I invited my best friend over to keep me company, and I warned a couple of others that I might be a little teary and need cheering up. |
I found the power of just f**king getting on and to-doing it! And I promise you, it wasn't anything like I thought it would be. And I figured out some really REALLY awesome things:
- I should be calling 2011 "The Year I Had A Freaking Amazing Trip", rather than "The Year I Made A Really Stupid Mistake". Or I could work on something catchier ... the point is the reframe :p
- The person I avoid with (probably unnecessary) fervour is not the same person I spent 2011 with - therefore I can still love and miss and have great memories of the 2011 version.
- However much tape and photo corners you think you will need for a project like this: double it.
- Ditto for chocolate
- It is much harder to get emotional if you maintain a steady level of Tatum.
So if I can finally cross something off my list after four years ... what are you going to tackle this week?
And, if I can complete my WEDDING album, post (nasty) divorce, with a smile on my face and genuinely fond memories - what can you face? I'm almost certain it won't be as hard as you think it will.
OK, I've gotta go - if you're keeping score, you'd know there are still three years to catch up on ... thankfully they weren't anywhere near as exciting :p
P.S. If you'd like some support in getting to that project you're stuck on, I'd be honoured to help. If you need Channing Tatum movie recommendations, hit me up on Facebook. But for more personal assistance, I'd love to work with you through Private Coaching. We can really get into the action steps for making your dreams come true - and work through those barriers together. YAY! |