The Just ONE Thing Challenge April 14, 2011
Posted by nrhatch in Home & Garden, Humor, Life Balance.trackback
Well, I’m making progress with my Just One Thing challenge, but . . . One Thing often turns into Another Thing.
By way of example, I updated my antiquated list of account passwords. Rather than just re-writing the list, which would have taken less than an hour, I tested each account for access and updated my profile on each site.
Tedious is an understatement.
After updating the list of passwords, I realized that we should store a copy “off site” in a secure location “just in case.”
Before running the list over to our safe deposit box, I decided to make copies of the front and back of credit cards and driver’s licenses to put in the box for safe keeping.
That made me realize that I need to update our Family Record which lists accounts, credit cards, insurance, doctors, etc.
That made me realize . . .
Well, you get the point. Crossing one item off my “To Do” list resulted in six more to do’s on the list.
At this rate, instead of completing the list by the end of April, I should complete my list by the end of May . . .
2017.
2016 . . . if the trade winds are favorable.
No rules. Just write!
What say you? Do you find it frustrating when one thing leads to another?
Related posts: Just One Thing * I feel G~O~O~D!!!
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Spirit Lights The Way 
ROFL
Would you believe it’s snowing again?
Have a lovely weekend 😉
Wow! There has been more snow this year than I ever remember hearing about. Maybe it’s because of internet access to so many places, but it seems like more than that.
Hope Spring returns soon.
I’ve just declined a trip to Tokeloshe’s city with my brother – largely for that reason: Snow! I just mowed my lawn the other day.
I would have made the same decision. 😀
I love the smell of fresh mown grass early in the Spring.
Yes, I get frustrated when one thing leads to another. I try to keep life simple. Tackling your list makes your life simpler. You are preventing fires that you will not have to put out later. Thank you for the inspiration. Blessings to you, Nancy…
Thanks, Carol Ann. I’m beginning to see why I postponed tackling some of the items . . . I expect that I knew that just one thing would lead to another and another and another.
Still, I am making progress AND am also feeling more motivated to exercise. So, it’s all good.
You’ve made me feel guilty, that’s a lot of good things you did. The only thing I did from my list was ‘cook something with cranberries’. Proud of you.
Thanks, Cin. What did you cook? 😀
I am making progress on some of the “stale” items . . . by slogging steadily uphill.
In fact, you just added several things to My to do list! I haven’t done any of those things in a long time! Thanks a lot for giving me more to do! Haha
Sorry, Rosa. This post should sound more upbeat. I’ve gotten tons done in the past week ~ including the taxes. Yay!!!
It’s just that my list seems to be growing longer, rather than shorter. 😀
Eh? That’s life. Big things are made up of lots of little things, so we just have to take care of the little things to manage our living most of the time. I do think that the world would be better if we didn’t have so many unnecessary additions to our lists.
Part of the endless treadmill we’re on is fueled by fear . . . we want to protect against the “what ifs.”
Sometimes, I just shrug and say, “That’s not going to happen.” Other times, I feel that I need to at least run through the motions.
Tedious, but worth doing.
With the passwords especially. I had them listed in 6 different places, with cross out and arrows and erasures.
Whenever I needed to “refresh my memory,” I had to find the right sheet, and then decipher the chicken scratch.
Not an ideal system. 😀
I certainly identify with this, Nancy. The unending chain of “what ifs”. I’ve wondered how people put the “intangible” aspect of life back together after Nature strikes a blow. How do you get a passport when all your ID is buried? I remember meeting a woman from L.A. about 15 years ago who hid all her money and legal papers in a hole in the dirt floor of her old garage. I was awed by this woman having so many fears. Maybe she actually has fewer than most of us! 😀
In MD, we didn’t have a Safe Deposit Box. We just kept important papers at home. Once we moved here, the bank’s location was convenient and the rates for checking account holders were reasonable. We decided it made sense to move things “off site” for safe keeping.
Even with the non-existent interest rates these days, I’ve never been tempted to bury my cash in a dirt hole. But if the bankers don’t start behaving, we may do just that! 😀
Nancy, your “To Do” list is going well. You’ve given me thoughts-I need to add to my “To Do” list. Thanks ! 🙂
You’re welcome. And good for you. Here’s to getting it done! 😀
You are making good progress – in spite of coming across all the other little ‘extras’. One thing leads to another . . . so true! You will get there though!
Thanks, Barb. I’m actually feeling good about the progress, even if a few new tasks have appeared on the scene.
I bet you feel great after getting those things done. I need to do the same. I think I’ll add them to my list.
I am feeling better now that a few of these stale items have been crossed off.
And the inspiration to exercise has been an unexpected bonus ~ 7.0 mile bike rides yesterday and today, plus walking and T’ai Chi. Yippee!
Inspiring and maddening, Nancy! Thanks, and, well. . .no thanks! 😀
I definitely need to do the passwords thing, and you have inspiried me to do it. . .soon. . .I promise. Definitely by the end of 2012 or 2013! But I am duly impressed with your industry! I’m trying right now (taking a break) to get today’s post up while it’s still today!
Happy Birthday, PTC!
Happens a lot and the darnest thing is that I see it coming, I go for it, and then I marvel at the endless “things” we get distracted by… LOL! 8)
I hope to be done someday in the near future. Speaking of which, every time I use that phrase, I ask myself: What the heck is the near future anyway? If it’s future, it can’t be that near… 🙂
Eliz
I used to love the quote: “Hang on, the future is next.”
The NOW is dead. Long live the NOW 😀
lol – I feel your pain! My life consists of a never-ending to do list, best of luck Nancy and congrats on what you have achieved – small steps to a greater good 🙂
The thing that I’m most psyched about is the walking and bike riding. So far, this week’s exercise (for 5 days):
Bike – 20 miles
Water Aerobics – 60 minutes
Walking – 5 miles
T’ai Chi – 60 minutes
congrats for
http://eof737.wordpress.com/2011/04/14/featured-blogger-nancy-hatch-%E2%80%93-spirit-lights-the-way/
Ooh, I’ll have to swing by and check it out. I’ve been so busy this morning, that I haven’t been around yet.
Thanks, Frizz!
I think those folks who run egalitarian societies in the rainforest have it right and we have it wrong.
They probably don’t have to keep track of computer passwords to all the major blockbuster stores. 😉
You put me to shame. I’m still working on working on how to find time for my WIP and other writing.
Aah, but you just had a lovely trip to NYC and Philadelphia. It’s all about life balance and it seems like you are quite balanced about life.
Haha, yes, best not to even start, no? 😉
In answer to your question, I actually like when one thing leads to another – there’s a sort of music or in-the-flow feeling to it…
You’ve got a point, Ruth. Our attention draws us from one stepping stone on our path . . . to the next . . . and the next.
I always try to “live in the moment” while realizing that everything is in the state of change. One thing leads to another, but each is a moment unto itself.
Thanks for the post Nancy
Walter
Wonderful practice, Walter.
When I ask “what do I want to do now?” . . . tasks seem to flow more smoothly then when I try to plan ahead by saying, “First, I’m going to do this. Then that. Then this.”
Allowing life to unfold in its own way and time, moment by moment, pays dividends.