Who among us hasn't looked at the calendar at some point and said, "This is crazy! How did I wind up with so much to do in so little time?"
Janet Periat has been there. Janet's a fine writer and a neat person, too. And she recently wrote a column for CoastViews Magazine (which I edit) that I knew I wanted to feature here. If you relate to what Janet is saying, please go read the whole column; I've had to leave out some choice anecdotes in this excerpt.
As I write this, it is three days after Christmas. I woke up this morning still exhausted from the holiday onslaught, with few brain cells left. First thing I did was spill hummingbird food all down my front and flip out — in the front yard no less. I finally dragged myself inside so I could yell without censoring myself. While I knew that the level of anger I was experiencing was totally disproportionate to the severity of the mishap, I was so tired, all I could do was watch myself freak out. ...Note: Longer than usual extract used with permission of CoastViews.
Why do I think I can do more than I can? Why do I set myself up like this? Why do I believe that if I just try a little harder, I can get it all done? ...
As I look back at my plans for the last four months, they don’t look that crazy. All I had to do was serve as master of ceremonies for the Pescadero Arts and Fun Festival in late August; go on two back-to-back vacations in September (dumbest idea EVER, so tired we couldn’t enjoy the second); host a Halloween party for 20; host a two-week in-law attack — I mean, visit — over Thanksgiving; get oral surgery; shop, clean and decorate for Christmas; host a party for 17 at my house on Christmas Eve; clean up the party on Christmas Day and fix a special Christmas dinner for my sister and husband. Oh, and also complete the final edits on two books — and publish them — and write my columns while working on two new novels. Plus I started a new diet and exercise regimen in July. ...
I think my problem is two-fold: a hefty dose of denial regarding my abilities, coupled with the unplanned. I didn’t plan on rats chewing through the wires on my car and stranding me at home for a week in October. I didn’t plan on being sick for the remaining three weeks of October. Ditto on the toe surgery I needed two days after my oral surgery. ...
So as I head into the new year, I am going to ... write “Plan for the Unplanned” on every page. When I receive an invitation or make a date, I’ll look at my calendar closely. I won’t merely look at the day of the event; I’ll look at the entire month before and afterwards.
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