Читать книгу Above and Beyond - J.S. Dorian - Страница 46

“He prepares to go mad with fixed rule and method.”

HORACE

It was 2:00 a.m., and the sound of the electric drill awakened my wife. When she came into the living room I explained that I was bolting the bookcase to the wall to prevent it from falling during the next earthquake. “It’s been on my list for a long time,” I added feebly. She shook her head with dismay and suggested I finish in the morning.

The incident forced me to take a hard look at my willingness to be tyrannized by “to do” lists. It occurred to me that each notation on my list usually begins as a random thought. By writing it down and prioritizing it, I transform the simple thought into an urgent necessity. I realized then why I so often feel driven, anxious, and frustrated without knowing why.

Since “The Night of the Bookcase,” as my wife and I have come to call it, I’ve been trying to change my ways. First, I endeavor to view my thoughts as thoughts and nothing more. Second, I try to step back from the thought, so to speak, in order to objectively weigh its importance. After that, I’m ready to decide whether the thought is worth acting on.

THOUGHT FOR TODAY

Are my daily “to do” lists putting me under needless pressure?