My Love-Hate Relationship with To-Do Lists

I don't remember when I became a list person.

Actually...

That's not true.

I've always been a list person.

The difference is, I used to make lists so I wouldn't forget what I needed to do.

Now I make lists because I'm afraid I'll forget what I needed to do.

There's a subtle difference.

I don't know if that's part of getting older or if my brain has simply run out of storage space.

Either way, it's a little unsettling.

I used to trust myself to remember things.

Now I walk into a room and immediately wonder why I went there.

I open the refrigerator and stand there looking around as if the answer might magically appear between the milk and the mustard.

So...

I make lists.

Sticky notes.

Notepads.

The backs of receipts.

Random scraps of paper that seem like a perfectly reasonable place to write something important.

Until I can't remember which scrap of paper it was.

Recently I decided to embrace technology.

Yes...

Me.

I found an app where I can make lists on my phone.

And here's the best part...

I can actually check things off.

I didn't realize how satisfying that little checkmark would be.

It's ridiculously rewarding.

In fact, I may or may not have added something to the list after I'd already done it...

just so I could check it off.

If you've done this too...

we don't have to talk about it.

The funny thing is, no matter how many things I cross off...

the list never seems to get shorter.

Maybe that's just life.

As soon as one thing is finished, another takes its place.

So I've decided my lists aren't really about remembering.

They're about hope.

They're a reminder that there are still things I want to do.

Places I want to go.

Books I want to read.

Recipes I want to try.

People I want to call.

Dreams I haven't crossed off yet.