It’s so easy to lose focus. With all that is going on in our lives, we tend to deal with what’s on fire right in front of us and put off getting to the other, more important stuff later. Of course, the assumption is there will be a later.
For me it’s: 1) the day job, 2) selling off the stuff that doesn’t fit the plan anymore and 3) getting the last of the taxes paid on some rental property I own.
The day job is self explanatory. Without it, all the other stuff isn’t funded. When things get shaky at work all of the rest is in jeopardy. The effect is twofold; on the one hand I have to knuckle down and get serious about pleasing the work powers that be and on the other I have to remember that there is more to life than work. Tiz a tough balance to maintain.
Taxes are taxes. "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s…" and all of that. Doing so usually puts some pressure on the checkbook and requires some careful timing and eating cheap for several weeks. Try as I might it’s always stressful.
Of course, the main goal is to get debt free and eventually sail off for a couple of years--maybe several years. Losing sight of that goal is too easy. I get caught up in the day-to-day numbers and schedules and details of getting through each day. The hard part is dealing with what is right in front of me while looking over its shoulder to the big goal. So what I’ve done is create a list. I’m a daily list kinda guy but this is one that I’ll post by the door so I can see it several times a day. I’ve even put it up at work. The list covers what I want to accomplish for the next 12 months. I even called it, “Here are the 12 (or so) things I want to accomplish for 2012.” That’s as descriptive a title as I could come up with. The things include:
* Meditate, stretch and drop the sugar
* No more lottery tickets, vending machine garbage or munching
* Get serious about writing lyrics and blog entries. Seriously work on the guitar act
* Bicycle instead of drive whenever possible
* Get a local doctor and physical exam
* Finish the solar panel installation
* Install a composting toilet
* Log at least six hours of sailing a month
* Use the kerosene stove
* Learn to fish and clean fish
While some of these things don’t seem all that difficult, several are. I’ve been a sugar-holic for years so that’s a toughie to beat. Driving is sooo much easier when it’s just a short hop to the store. The kerosene stove thing is about cooking and I’m not much on cooking. It takes time, planning and doing stuff that is so much easier to get from opening a bag or package. Yep. It’s gonna take some effort.
I figure 30 minutes a day to meditate, maybe an hour or two a week for the guitar act, how much time does learning to cook take? No more lottery tickets and such is actually saving time, I suppose. Fishing? How do you figure that in?
And then there's getting in some quality napping.
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