Friday, October 3, 2008

It's All About The Lists...

The other day a good friend of mine said to me that I was on the top of her list. It sounded good to me, until I got to wondering which list I was on. Was it a good list? I certainly hope so...don't think I have done anything lately to get on her bad list.

The way I see it is that there are just too many list in the world! Everyone is always telling us to make a list. Seems like we have a list for just about everything.

List seem to come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and uses. There are list that we always forget, like the shopping list. There are list that we only wish we could forget, like the "to do" list. We have list to remind us of the people we don't like and list that remind us of people that we do like. Why keep a list to remind us about people we don't like...why not lose that list altogether! We might find that if we do, those people eventually might find their way onto the list of people we like.

Some people tell us that to get rid of a problem, just make a list of our problems, look at it, then throw it away. That seems a little silly to me...if I am going to go to the trouble to make a list why throw it away? Why not just put it with the grocery list, because we are going to forget that list anyway!

My personal opinion is that we spend way too much time worrying with list. We are either trying to get on a list, get off a list, upgrading our list, downsizing our list, hunting our lost list so we don't have to make a new one, or going back and checking our list to make sure that we got it right the first time!

Heck, even Santa Clause spends a vast amount of time making a list and then, he checks it! Not once, but twice...! But in Santa's case, I think we can make an exception, don't you? After all, he has to find out who's been naughty or nice, doesn't he?

In my younger years, I spent my fair share of time dealing with lists. I bought lists, sold lists, made new lists, shared lists, copied lists, tried to shorten some of my lists or add to some other lists I had.

But now, I do things mostly without a list. That can make life more of an adventure ! Even trips to the grocery store become fun outings if you have no idea what you are going to end up with when you get home.

As far as the really important things go, I really don't need a list! Some things are better left to memory anyway. Memories can often help to do away with our bad list or can at least, serve to soften them a bit...and that's a good thing.

And when it comes to my friends, the only list that I keep is not on paper and not even in my head. That list is so special that I keep it in my heart! There it will never get lost, forgotten or downsized. The heart never forgets...!

Oh, and by the way, if you really want to know where all those lost lists are...I can tell you that they are in the very same place as all the single socks that get lost in the clothes dryer, OK?

Now, how about a fresh cup of coffee, my friend ?

6 comments:

Lydia said...

Good morning Jim,

That was so funny, and very true! I used to write grocery lists or to do lists also but then would lose or forget them anyway. You are so right, memory surely does have a way of softening things up. Maybe that's why we forget so much as we age, who needs to hold on to old wounds..! The socks...yeah I really want to know where they go too.

Cup of coffee sounds great!

HermitJim said...

Hey Lydia...thanks for stopping by and for the comments. Glad you enjoyed the post...it is something that we all can relate to, I believe.

Have a good day!
Jim

Anonymous said...

Hey my Bubba,
You just made my day easier already!!! The list I was starting to make...forget it. I still have one from several days ago anyway that I had forgotten when I went to the store. However, I'm willing to bet whatever list you are on (your friend's list) is a good one!
Love ya.

HermitJim said...

Hey Sis...see? We don't need all those list after all! Glad I could help to make your day a bit easier!!

My friend did assure me that her list I was on wasn't a bad list, so I'm good!

Hey, you and Donna have a good day...

Lova ya...

blondie said...

Hey Jim,
Well you are always on the top of my list ... the good one of course!
Funny post. Reminded me of a George Carlin skit.
Ok, am getting a late start today so I gotta get moving.
C'ya soon on the patio :)
hehe
blondie

HermitJim said...

Hey Blondie...always good to see ya! I'll always save ya a place on the patio, my Lady...

I know what you mean about those late starts, which is why I post mu blog the night before and schedule it to publish later. That way everyone thinks I start early, and I get to sleep in...

Catch ya later...