Being an organized person, I have a number of to-do lists floating around my life. One by one, I draw a line through each task as its completed – I love the feeling of marking something off the list! While I love the idea of tracking all the “do’s” in my life, I was recently reminded that the “don’ts” are just as important.
A prompt in my writer’s group put forth the idea of making a don’t list. At first, this seems like a very negative list to make, but its really an opportunity to be positive and consider new possibilities. My don’t list became an itemization of uplifting reminders (and a little bit of humor).
Don’t . . .
. . . give up
. . . give in
. . . be mean
. . . be negative
. . . be too hard on yourself
. . . listen to your inner critic
. . . stop writing
. . . forget to laugh
. . . get in a snit over stupid stuff
. . . lose a sense of wonder
. . . eat pink jelly beans. They are always gross.
. . . take gossip seriously
. . . limit creativity
. . . let a number define you
. . . leave dishes in the sink
. . . trust GPS completely
. . . buy anything unless you know exactly where it’s going to go
. . . live beyond your means
. . . try to train a cat (unless you want to see an “are you kidding me” face)
. . . leave a mess
. . . eat food that has ingredients you can’t pronounce
. . . listen when someone says, “you can’t”
. . . let go of your inner child
. . . stop traveling
. . . pass up a custard filled doughnut (no matter what diet you’re on)
. . . park your car like an idiot
. . . believe everything you hear
. . . put a book down
. . . forget your dreams
. . . complain about the weather. It is what it is.
. . . buy shoes if they hurt your feet
. . . throw out what can be reused, recycled, or upcycled
. . . try to be something you’re not
. . . leave chocolate out in the open at work. Keep a stash that no one can find.
. . . show up late
. . . forsake the little things that matter most
. . . let a day go by without being grateful for something
– – –
What’s on your don’t list?
– – –
c.b.w. 2012
C.B. Wentworth 