I Live Like This - This is a new sentence that encapsulates so much. You can say it like a question, like an exclamation, like you're happy, like you're frustrated...

I live like this?!?
I *LIVE* like this?
=I= live like this!
I live like THIS??

See what I mean?

The thought occurred to me when I took a really honest look at my house, the patterns in my room (the clutter, etc.), my schedule, and what I do with my time.

Once upon a time, years and years ago (maybe 20+ years ago?) I thought to myself, "Wouldn't it be nice if I had little bags of projects where I could go to a shelf, pick something to work on, and take it with me?" Looking around --> I live in the MIDDLE of exactly that. I really do live in a giant collection of projects, bundled and portable.

The problem is, they are ALL only partially started, or just collected, or set down half-way through. Everything is unfinished.

I look at my desk where the TV is. There's a small stack of CDs/DVDs that need to be put away. Sure, I neatly stacked them. But I couldn't walk across the room and actually put them away? Next to that is a book I'm reading. Why isn't the book where books go? Next to that are some envelopes for sending letters or bills (from when I unpacked it from my bookbag, and didn't put it away). There's an empty bottle of contact solution, "to remind me to buy more." My pewter goblet is next to that, because I set it there after unpacking from an SCA event.

There's no reason for all that stuff to just be sitting on my TV / Printer desk. Oh, and the printers? Both are without ink right now, because I haven't shopped for more, or taken them to be refilled at the printer cartridge store that's NEXT DOOR to the laundromat where I wash my clothing EVERY week.

I live like this?

Every surface of every desk, table, credenza, or shelf is filled with half-completed projects, books with book marks, things I'm "about to put away soon," and supplies for something "I'm planning to make or work on any day now."

I live like this! *sheesh*

My purse holds a few odds and ends that need to be put away. My clean laundry was set down and hasn't been put away yet. Even my bed just needs the blankets tucked in neatly.

I live like this. *sigh*

So. What to do about it? I can either (a) accept it and be okay with it, or (b) change it. Which do I want? Do I want a life, a house, and a schedule filled with "UFOs" --> Unfinished Finished Objects (a term used in several crafting communities)? Or do I want to live a life of FO announcements: I finished something! I completed it! It's done! It's crossed off the list! On to finishing the next item!

I think you might already see where I'm going with this. Yes, I always wanted to have projects I could carry around and work on, and a variety so I could pick and choose from many different, exciting projects any time. I wanted to have big projects and little projects. Things with string. Things that involve computer technology. Books to read. Lessons to listen to on my iPod. Songs to write and memorize. Languages to learn, practice, speak, and write. Organizational tasks like labeling or filing or other mindless things you can accomplish without having to think too hard.

And sometimes I've gotten pretty good at realizing when the system was too complex and taking too much time, so slash the old system, make it more streamlined, get to the "finished" state more easily. My checkbook register was one of those systems --> I finally realized there was no need for a hand-written register in the checkbook, AND the computer updated register, AND the reconciled bank statements pain-stakingly cross-checked and neatly filed, AND the reconciled computer files. No wonder these were never done, or caught up, or finished. Um, yeah, no. So now I just have the one computer register, updated about every week on average (used to be every 2 weeks, but now I get paid every week, so it makes sense to update it every time I get paid).

But I look around my house, and now I'm tired of living in the middle of nothing but UFOs. It's time to live a life of Finished Object Announcements.

So, more than just my "Blessings" at the end of every journal entry, start looking for my Finished Object Announcements. The tasks might be simple, like "I finished putting away all the clean laundry for the week. I put away all the shoes that were out. I emptied all the trash cans. I washed all the dishes. I put away another 3" of filing paperwork. I made my bed. I vacuumed my bedroom and the living room." (I didn't actually do these... I'm just saying these MIGHT be the kind of finished things I'd be working on.)

Of course, a lot of those tasks are EXTREMELY boring to write up and report in a journal entry, so I'm likely to say things like, "I completed 8 house tasks, and 1 music task today. I finisehd 50% on another art project, projected completion: Friday." This way, I'm not boring you (and me) with the details (especially the boring housework details). But I liked when my house was "holiday clean" (clean enough to feel good about having guests over for the holidays) and I miss it.

And WHY NOT strive for a life filled with accomplishments and finished projects? I would be terrible to listen to a eulogy someday if my friends and family were to say, "She was into everything, but sadly finished very little." I would be so much more wonderful to hear, "She truly knew how to finish what she started, and oh the amazing things she accomplished."

So the note on my bathroom mirror reads:

I LIVE LIKE THIS
Want to change it?
* Pick it up, put it away
* Finish it
* Toss it out

Join me? I'd love to hear about your finished and completed accomplishments!

* * * * *
Yesterday's Finished Objects: Finished recording the last vocal track for the 3rd CD for band. I'm actually done recording this album! *whee*
Today's Finished Objects: 5 house/kitchen tasks done. 4 website/email tasks done (including this journal entry). 1 desk item done. Plans for the rest of today: 1 kitchen task, maybe 2. 5 sewing tasks.

Today's Blessing That I'm Thankful For: New observations, new motivation.