Are You Disorganized, Lazy, and Unable to Follow Through Like Me?
I have always been a more spontaneous person than many others in my life. Growing up, I thought that was a fault, because it was seen as "not following through," "getting sidetracked," "being ditzy," "disorganized," and, generally, not appreciated.
It was not for a lack of trying to be different than who I am, by nature. I even tried to force more structure in my life, and to learn how to follow "the rules" by joining the military. In many ways, the military system had some of the same troubles with me, as that of my family system.
Today at 60-years-of-age, I find that I place some of the same expectations of myself. I state a plan, but I find myself diverting from the initial course of action. Interesting word, "divert."
Most define "diversion" as some sort of evil scheme to distract, disturb or sidetrack someone or something from another plan of action. However, it is also an effort (scheme) to cause something or someone to change their course of action or turn from one direction to another.
Yesterday, I had plans. Big plans. Many plans. I was to be out the door by 8:30 a.m. I even made a list:
- Manicure and pedicure
- Make a deposit at credit union
- Pick up returns (things they did not accept) from the consignment shop
- Meet T (sis) for lunch
- Go to RGD's to check on his house
- Visit RN in hospital, if he is up to it
- Go home
I accomplished four of the seven things on the list: Deposit, Pick-up, lunch, and come home. So, what happened?
I did not get out the door until 10:15 a.m. I was intent on spending time here reading, commenting, and writing. So, my list (though not actually rewritten) ended up looking more like this:
- Make deposit at credit union
- Pick up returns at Lucky Star (consignment shop).
- Stop for a cup of coffee at the mini-market and a quick chat with Bill, the octogenarian who works there
- Battle the torrential rain driving
- Sit in horrendous traffic once in Tacoma and heading south, due to the accidents
- Make it to Panda Express at 12:28, despite the traffic
- Have lunch and conversation with my sister
- Plan what-to-do for my nephew's 7th birthday
- Call my friend, BB, to see if she wants to meet for coffee
- Go to Starbucks, read a bit, and talk to some people
- Have coffee and conversation with BB, when she gets there.
- Go to car to get clothing not taken at shop and offer it to BB
- Talk more
- Go to Goodwill to browse
- Battle IH5 traffic doing 5 mph during rush hour
- Stop at Sushi Revolution for sushi, if it is nearing 6 p.m.
- Stop by Marlene's Organic Foods for two boxes of favorite crackers on sale
- Make my way back across the bridge and into Kitsap County doing 15 mph.
- Stop to check in with my 82-yo friend and talk a bit
- Watch a fair amount of the pre-season game between the Seahawks and Broncos
- Stop by Haggen grocery store a few minutes from my place for ice cream
- Come home, put things in freezer
- Try to write about PP payment but begin to doze off
- Crawl into bed and be asleep by 10:30 p.m. and sleep until 8 a.m.
Out of those 24, I accomplished them all. The manicure, pedicure, house and hospital visits will all happen on Monday. They are each of major priority now.
Does not having them done yesterday make me lazy? Disorganized? Unfocused? Or?
No, it does not. It simply means that I go with the flow. I am adaptable. Flexible. I explore many options. And I live my life, as it comes to me.
Sometimes, the conversations we have, and the people we meet along the way, spending time to listen, laugh, and share, are worth more than all the manicures and pedicures in the world.
© Copyright 2015 - Coral Levang. All Rights Reserved
FOPP | Spontaneity | friendship
Image Credit » https://pixabay.com/en/chaos-regulation-chaos-theory-485495/ by geralt
Comments
Ellis wrote on August 15, 2015, 4:14 PM
Yes, I too am disorganized, unable to follow through with a short attent.....ooh a fly...
CoralLevang wrote on August 15, 2015, 4:27 PM
I guess that birds of a feather are distracted by the same fly, Ellis !
CoralLevang wrote on August 15, 2015, 5:30 PM
*laughs* I live alone, so I need socialization. Tacoma is an hour away, so I do more in the big city than in my little community here on the peninsula. But you could be right about the coffee. Perhaps, decaf is the answer?
Oh, and since waking up at 8 a.m., I am still in bed, though I padded down to the kitchen for blood orange sorbet for breakfast (no coffee), and started reading, writing, and commenting here and other sites around the web, i.e. CNN. I'm getting ready to shut down here (2:30 p.m. and head out to see if one of my many entries has won some money or a new car. Must be present to win.) Sooooooooo...... see? Today I am lazy.
MegL wrote on August 15, 2015, 5:36 PM
You might like to take a look at The House Fairy, otherwise known as Pam Young who is one half of "The Slob Sisters", wrote "From Pigpen to Paradise" and The GOOD Book (Get out of Debt) The mouth Trap (dieting) and has also written the Joy of being disorganised. She is very funny and celebrates being disorganised as being Spontaneous and lighthearted.
CoralLevang wrote on August 15, 2015, 6:51 PM
ROFLMAO "...pick a fight...keeps me going..." I love it.
CoralLevang wrote on August 15, 2015, 6:52 PM
Sounds familiar. Perhaps, I have seen her on a show sometime a long time ago. Will look it up. Thanks.
JohnRoberts wrote on August 15, 2015, 7:08 PM
I am the opposite and perhaps too much so. But without discipline and focus, one does not accomplish.
CoralLevang wrote on August 15, 2015, 7:32 PM
JohnRoberts Thank you for your comment. I hear this, often, from my workshop participants/students, who are often coming from the nuclear field, military, and other fields which are logical, scientific, and productivity-driven fields. I have been there, done that, and lived through it.
The fallacy in the "without discipline and focus, one does not accomplish" argument, however, is that those of us who exercise more spontaneity are often mis-"diagnosed" as "unaccomplished" by those who have set up a scoring rubric based solely on a strict linear and concrete way of thinking or judgment. Conversely, those who are opposite, as you suggest you are, can be mis-diagnosed as being rigid, Machiavellian, unyielding, and many more labels.
Accomplishment and success can be measured by much more than what we have come to adopt. We need balance. Logic will take us from A to B; imagination will take us everywhere else. This has been a constant struggle in my life, vacillating between the two.
DWDavisRSL wrote on August 15, 2015, 11:18 PM
I am much like you. I prefer to go with the flow. K and I have had to come to a compromise over her necessity to plan every detail and my ability to make it up as I go along. She's also come to understand that her wanting it done right now may not always correspond to my being willing to do it right now if it doesn't actually need to be done right now and I'm already doing something else.
Paulie wrote on August 15, 2015, 11:18 PM
I have always hated a regimented life style, and that is one reason why I only stayed in the Navy for four years. Actually only 3 and a half years because I got a six month early out. Like you, I am spontaneous too and even when I am travelling. It is no big deal to have a hotel booked in advance because I knew I could always find some place. It is important to go with the flow.
cheri wrote on August 16, 2015, 2:13 AM
People see me as a workaholic person and very organized. I consider it sickness. LOL
LoudMan wrote on August 16, 2015, 2:17 AM
I find flexibility tobeanecessity too.
CoralLevang wrote on August 16, 2015, 4:58 AM
It sounds as if you and K have learned the art of compromise.
CoralLevang wrote on August 16, 2015, 5:01 AM
I wonder, sometimes, how I lasted as long as I did. I think it was because I thought that system was what I "should" be, and that I was flawed, if not regimented. It didn't work well, and I was always stressed out, feeling like I was faulty.
I am the same way about traveling and booking for hotel or restaurants.
CoralLevang wrote on August 16, 2015, 5:03 AM
I can be a "workaholic," but not very organized by what I would guess are your standards. It, too, can be problematic.
Paulie wrote on August 16, 2015, 5:18 AM
May I ask how many years you spent in the military CoralLevang ?
CoralLevang wrote on August 16, 2015, 6:22 AM
Aug 1973 to July 1975 USAF
Oct 1976 to Apr 1977 USN-R
Apr 1977 to Nov 1989 USN
Paulie wrote on August 16, 2015, 6:29 AM
Why did you change from the Air Force to the Navy? Considering all of the time you spent, are you eligible for any kind of retirement pay?
wolfgirl569 wrote on August 16, 2015, 10:16 AM
I never seem to stick to my lists completely. But the distractions often more than make up for what I did not get done
inertia4 wrote on August 16, 2015, 11:55 AM
I get sidetracked all the time. Once my concentration is broken, well, it takes me a while to reset that and get back on track. I also divert. I will start something and then wind up doing something else. I was never one for structure. And I am not going to start now.
CoralLevang wrote on August 16, 2015, 1:48 PM
Absolutely! I think I learned that as a kid, never knowing what the hell to expect when I got home. :-/
CoralLevang wrote on August 16, 2015, 1:50 PM
I was not allowed to retire, but six months after I left, they had a program for reduction in force allowing those with 15 years to retire.
Eight years after I left, however, I went to the VA and the came back with a disability rating for which I am compensated. I count that as my "retirement" pay.
CoralLevang wrote on August 16, 2015, 1:51 PM
That's why I am starting to look at them, not as a distraction, but a change of plans.
CoralLevang wrote on August 16, 2015, 1:53 PM
I need to make structure a game, otherwise there would be nothing I would get done.
My mother used to call me a "gypsy," not a good thing coming from someone her age.
My jewelry business, if I ever get it started, is called CocoGypsy Beads.
inertia4 wrote on August 16, 2015, 4:29 PM
I can relate with this. I just never did well with authority or structure. I always looked for a better way to do something. And I still do that. So I am always changing.
1wolfgirl569 wrote on August 16, 2015, 8:08 PM
That is a good way to look at it. I am just happy to get things done on the days I plan on working
1Paulie wrote on August 17, 2015, 2:37 AM
I'm happy to hear that you got the disability rating from the VA. I used my GI benefits when I bought my first home and also when i went back to school after getting out.