Get Up, Get Out, and Get Something

The clock on the computer reads, "12:38 pm." Currently, I am sitting at the dining room table looking across the street at the neighborhood pool. No one is swimming yet because the water remains relatively calm.

From the far reaches of the house, I hear the closing minutes of C3's church service. Upstairs, I hear Dakota dropping toys and singing another one of her lovely songs. Repeatedly she sings the same parts over and over, which causes a slow smile to find its way across my face.

I understand that today is Sunday. There is a sense of freedom in knowing that I have the rest of the day, as well as tomorrow, to play. At the same time, I know that I have a dissertation to write, a mile to run, and a written response to compose for the Middle Eastern Province Senior Vice Polemarch of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

As the day grows older, the house will find new ways to make noise. That means I will lose precious moments to be alone and capture my thoughts. Not that family noises are bad or unwanted, but rather a confession that time waits for no man. If I am going to complete that which is required of me today, I'll need to get moving.

As silly as it may sound, I am deeply interested in processes. In the absence of others, I turn to explore and discover my own habits. This morning, I seek to understand how I might motivate myself into action.

During the week, I follow a set routine. I get up, take a shower, get dressed, and walk out the door. Because it is so late in the day, I've already lost my opportunity to complete the aforementioned tasks at the early predawn hour. I feel very much like the bird that didn't catch the worm. I feel like the world has already fought for that pole position and I'm just accepting leftovers.

At this point, I have to get up, dust myself off, and start making moves whenever I can. That means right now.

In writing that, I feel there is a lesson to be learned here. As in life, we are not always early adopters. Sometimes we are Johnny come lately and forced to make the best of what little time we have left. We can either sit there and do nothing or seek to be productive. Remember, it's never over till it's over.

So, I sit here thinking of how I am going to get this day moving. How will I accomplish my goals today? I can just hear someone yell, "One step at a time!"

I'll start by making a list of things to do. Second, I'll put the items in priority order. Third, I'll check each one off as I accomplish them. There is something very inspiring about scratching off completed tasks. I tried doing it online with Toodledo, but it's not as exciting as physically scratching off a list. With each finished task, I find that I acquire more energy. It's contagious.

That brings me to another point. I believe the act of physically changing has tremendous power over mental and emotional changes. Have you ever watched how nurses approach sick people? I did because I grew up with a nurse (my mother). They like to open windows, encourage showers, and organize a room into perfection. As a result, the physical demand of acting and looking healthy promotes internal healing. It's a domino effect.

So, as I stare off into the remaining portion of the day, I encourage you to take a step with me. Make a list of things you would like to finish by the end of the day. Then, once prioritized, start with item number one. When finished, immediately move onto item number two. Continue to approach the day like that until either you’ve finished the list or the day is through. As a final task, come back and let me know how the day went (good, bad, or other).

Until next time...