Procrastination

Last weekend Jamaal and I took a yuppie field trip to Target. (Don't be offended, you know that's what yuppie couples do. Target, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, all the same. Embrace your yuppiness.)

After finishing our shopping trip, we ventured over to Barnes & Noble. In resisting the temptation for a grande mocha,I ventured over to the reduced books section. I noticed a book about procrastination and thought "I need that." I wondered around more and ended up in the original spot with the procrastination book.
Don't get me wrong. I get the things that are necessary completed fairly easily. However, I often find difficulty starting, nevertheless accomplishing, the things on my "Dream Big, Life's Too Short, Anything is Possible, To Do List". Who or what I'm waiting for, I don't know.

Since I was there, I read the book jacket and found it to be quite enlightening. The book basically asserts that while some view procrastination and workaholicism as two different things, the author believes they are actually two components that work together to form a cycle-procrastination (generally a lack of work) creates workaholicism (an overabundance of work). People either become addicted to the extremes or become conditioned to operating this way. Interesting thought and, describes my pattern perfectly. I walked around with the book but decided not to buy it because I would be recreating the pattern that the book is describing. I didn't need one more item on my neverending to do list.

But, it prompted a new perspective. I have decided to confront my procrastination head on and get some things crossed off my list.

Stay tuned...

P.S. Did you know that an & is not allowed in a tag in Blogger? So I can't use Barnes & Noble? Really?

Mother Bear

I now know what a Mother Bear who has lost her cub feels like-insane, helpless, super sad and mad as hell, all at the same time. Yesterday morning, I got up, got dressed, ate breakfast and Jamaal and I left together. He went to work while I was on my way to a four-day training course (more on that later). The sun was out and I only needed a light jacket-it was going to be a good day. Until I realized that I had left my Blackberry at home. I honestly felt faint and nauseous and like I was going to cry.

Now, I'm really not that into myself to presume that someone would have a nervous breakdown if I didn't respond to their email or call immediately however I have joined the constantly growing group of people who depend on technology to organize their lives and feel connected to the world.

I eventually pulled myself together and realized a larger problem. I only wear a watch 1-2 times per year-only when it matches my outfit. My BlackBerry has become my watch. Without it, I have absolutely no concept of what time is. This becomes a problem when you have to be places at certain times.

I made it to my training and made it through the day and bolted, literally bolted to the train to get home. And of course, during rush hour, everyone is on their phone, checking email, Twittering, and communicating all willy-nilly. I swear I could hear their keystrokes over the music I was listening to on my iPod. And yes, I did think they were mocking me.

When I finally got home, of course I hadn't missed any important calls and the most important email was from Gap, Inc. about spring fashion. I hope I've not become or that I'm not turning into one of "those people" but I'm not ashamed to admit that there is some comfort in having the ability to communicate with those you love (or those who you may not be a fan of) and interact with the world. Albeit from a small metal box that fits in the palm of your hand.