I have a mental list of all the things I want to do "when I have time." That list grows longer, not shorter. It doesn't include the dreams. The vacations in a warm spot, with a beach and sunshine. (I'm really tired of wearing 2 shirts, 2 pairs of pants, and 3 pairs of socks to keep warm...while sitting at my desk!) And I really should put that list in my head on a piece of paper. The trouble is, I'd probably lose it. One of those things at the top of my list is to declutter my office. It's not happening. :(
The fact is, right now I should be working on one of three deadlines. One is small, one is medium, and the other is much bigger. The small one is due ASAP or by Friday at the latest. It shouldn't take all that much time. I have a Dear Reader letter to write for my August book, along with a dedication. I know what they'll both be about, but the difficulty is setting aside the time to do it. The medium one is to finish reading through the proofs for that same book. It takes some time, making sure everything is as perfect as possible. (It's never perfect. We're human.) I have two chapters and an epilogue left to go through. It's due next Tuesday. And the there's the much bigger one: Finish the book! Or rather editing and polishing the book. At least the first draft is written. February 24th--that's less than two weeks away!--is the deadline for the full manuscript (entire book) for the last book in my Desperation, Oklahoma, series, which will hit shelves sometime early next year. Hey, I'm trying.
The above are only writing deadlines. Then there's life. Pay bills, pick up a washer cartridges for two dripping faucets, declutter my office...after writing deadlines are met, buy groceries, fix meals, do some laundry so I actually have clean clothes. Just the normal stuff. Oh, and there are still taxes to do and send to the IRS. Add to all that the 3-4 trips to schools during the week, and two upcoming no-school days next week. Really? I mean, REALLY! Can we add a few more things to the Have-To's?
So what do I end up doing? Watching basketball games and staying up much later to work on writing deadlines at night than I should, i.e. skipping much needed sleep. My beloved Wichita State University Shockers are 26-0, one of only two unbeaten teams in the NCAA. Only five more games to go. And then my Kansas State University Wildcats are a must see...even though I forgot and missed the biggest game of the year on Monday, the second rivalry game of the year, KSU v. KU (University of Kansas). And KSU won!!!! Even though I knew the final score, I watched the whole game yesterday online. ;) Yes, I should have been working. :(
I've already given up two of the few television shows I usually watch. I haven't seen one episode of this season's DOWNTON ABBEY, and I'm way behind on PARENTHOOD. Except for basketball, there are only three shows (and the one CNN: The British Invasion special) that I've watched over the past month or so. Do I miss watching TV? Sometimes, but I'll find a way via online or other to catch up, if I feel the need.
When time is short, we have to set priorities. We have to give up some of the things that are important to us. Believe me, a little down time is needed to get through life, as it is, so giving up some of it is almost painful. Yet following our dream is important, too. Yes, work is what pays the bills, whether we love our jobs or not, so it can't be ignored. Those other things can, at least for a little while. There will be time, later, to enjoy the good things, too. Or at least I hope there will be!
I'm off to work on those priorities, those deadlines. Hope all is well in your world and you're getting done what needs to be done, yet still having a little "playtime!"
Decide what you want, decide what you are willing to exchange for it. Establish your priorities and go to work. ~ H. L. Hunt
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