Semi-Daily Scribbles

Sharon made lists. She made them every morning, including holidays. It was a good idea, really. Sharon thought of the lists as streamlined journaling, her aspirations declared in bullet point form. A typical list would include:

· Get a Better Paying Job
· Find A Soul Mate
· Move to London
· Fit Into a Size 4

The thing about lists, though, is they need to be checked. Not just the act of striking an item from the list with a check mark, but to read the 'Daily To-Do' for clarity and understanding. For example, do the tasks serve as stepping-stones? What is learned by their completion? Is there a theme carried over from list to list? If a better paying job comes along, and wearing skinny jeans becomes the new normal, is this enough? Perhaps the best way to map out a fulfilling life is to focus on the journey, one list-free day at a time.

So, did Sharon find satisfaction with her check marks and bullet points? Well, she didn't move to London, but she did accept a teaching position in Chattanooga. Her waist has remained the same circumference, which suits Sharon and her new friends just fine.