DON'T AND DO

Almost everyone has a “to do” list. I have intentions about what I need to do or what I want to do, or what I am going to do.  There is an item on my list related to writing more and writing better. I write down where I want to go or how else I want to spend some leisure time.  I have books I want to finish reading or books on my list I want to read but haven’t yet.  There are those who have “to do” items related to work or family or other relationships. Some have written lists, some daily, some keep them in their head as in “need to get to that later.”

Some people have a bucket list of things they want to do before they die.  If you have one, how’s that going? I don’t have a bucket list. I seldom make a written list with one exception, the grocery list. We keep a small magnetic white board on the side of the refrigerator which accumulates items for the list.  When we order groceries online, delivered the same day to the front door, a list is imperative to fulfill the order. Another exception is a travel list of essentials – documents, tickets, schedules, money, and transport.

There is a lot of important, serious and heavy stuff being posted these days, so I thought it might be a relief to offer up a departure and focus on an easy exercise for the week ahead. I made up a “ don’t” list and appended each one with the “do” because I believe in positive, constructive action.

My editor said this list is a no-brainer.  I said to her, “Don’t think too much.  Do consider whether anything fits and is useful.”  I thought that was a clever and amusing response given the title of this post. She didn’t find it at all funny.

1 – Don’t believe everything you hear or read.  Do your own due diligence and draw your own conclusions.

2 – Don’t listen to only one side of a debate or argument.  Do consider which side seems to be realistic and reasonable.

4 – Don’t be swept up in an emotional frenzy.  Do take a step back and remain rational.

5 – Don’t buy something based on an ad.  Do research on the product or service to determine its value.

6 – Don’t allow stress to contribute to poor health. Do prescribed physical and mental exercises that relieve stress.

7 – Don’t ignore your physical health.  Do daily exercises that include walking, stretching and elevating your pulse.

8 – Don’t stop learning.  Do continue to learn new information that can add to your understanding and appreciation.

9 – Don’t avoid meeting new people and staying in a bubble.  Do step out of your comfort zone and stretch your boundaries.

10 – Don’t make assumptions and judgments based on your own bias.  Do consider another, different POV before accepting or rejecting.

11- Don’t be trapped by a rigid, highly structured schedule.  Do allow for more free time and playtime.

12- Don’t measure success only by how much you can do.  Do consider how well you have done.

13 – Don’t take on more than you can chew and digest.  Do accept challenges that are appealing and intriguing.

14 – Don’t listen to others who want to tell you what to do.  Do listen to yourself and make up your own mind independently.

15 – Don’t be afraid to disagree.  Do express your opinions with respect and kindness.

16 – Don’t postpone what you could do that would help someone else.   Do it today.

17 – Don’t leave the house without checking you have everything you need. Do check the list one more time.

18 – Don’t forget to say thank you and please.  Do remember to be thoughtful and gracious.

19 – Don’t be negative and a nay-sayer.  Do add something positive and productive.

20 – Don’t take this list literally or too seriously.  Do enjoy it if it makes any sense.

See if you have any favorites on this list or any that caught your attention more than others and see what you can make of that.  In the meantime, take a deep breath, step back and reflect before diving into whatever is next on your list.