Five simple words

How did I end up washing out paint brushes when I started out a short while before to put the tent in the loft? Those tasks could never be connected ... could they?

Here's what happened.

It’s quite simple really. It’s my old companion procrastination having a cup of tea with her mate distraction.

I was fed up of stepping around the tent so I decided to put it away (after a few weeks of avoidance) so I thought it made sense to put other things in the loft at the same time.

Some packed up painting equipment was also nearby so I placed those at the bottom of the ladder and then ... that’s when I left the task in hand and went back downstairs. You see, it made sense to put ALL the painting equipment away as I’d finished with it for a while. Therefore I decided to get the extra brushes from the kitchen.

The only problem was I hadn’t finished washing them out yet. (I know, it’s been weeks and they’ve been sat in the white spirit ‘soaking’ so that they’ll be easier to clean.) A quick task, I thought.

Having lain there so long the brushes had become congealed with paint so I had to get more white spirits to free them up. This is when I began to regret not doing it sooner. The paint began to flick all around the sink as I tried to free the sticky bristles. My hands were now covered in paint and white spirit and so were the brushes.

After struggling with them for several minutes I decided one was a lost cause and threw it away. The other two could still be rescued, I thought. This is when I looked out of the window and remembered what I had started to do all that time ago.

The ladder sat waiting for me to lug the tent up it and there I was, in the kitchen, washing month old paint-caked brushes.

The words that ran through my mind when I decided to get the paint brushes now sang a different tune as I attempted to rid my skin of the paint and white spirit smell.

“I might as well just ...” I had said to myself when I remembered them. Now I thought that it would be better to say “I might as well just do it now ...” when the task is fresh then I wouldn’t end up with the twin sisters distraction and procrastination for company when I had other things to do.

I might as well just ... remember that in the future!

Waiting

How much of your life do you spend waiting? By that I mean waiting for things to start in your life. You’ve no doubt heard (or said) these phrases before ... “I’m just waiting for the right person,” “I’m waiting for the right job”, “I waiting for something to happen ...” or “I’m just waiting to see”.

What I have realised is that I mustn’t spend all my time waiting for something to happen in my life for me to get involved in proactive living - because my life has already “started” and it’s all about here and now.

It’s up to me to direct the next moment, it’s up to me to write my own life script.

I cannot wait for any external influence to create my present or future. That ability has been given to me. I must use it, and quit waiting.

Procrastination has been defeated ...

Procrastination has been defeated ...

at least for today! And I feel triumphant.

I was determined to complete three specific tasks today – and I did. It was touch and go as I fought the desire to give up on the major task all together. But I persevered and as soon as I got into the swing of it, I knew I was almost home and dry.

A phone call interrupted me and I thought that was the end. But after dealing with the caller I returned to my mission and completed it. And I did it all in good time.

I surprised myself.

I reminded myself that I am capable of achieving tasks that I set my mind to. At the start of the day I was berating myself for letting a week slip by without addressing this issue. I had even set a reminder last week to chivvy myself into action. As the days slipped after each other into oblivion I began to believe that there was no chance of completion.

As the morning settled I believed a different story. I told myself a different story, and I believed this version.

This evening I am satisfied by my accomplishments. I encouraged myself and rewrote the ending to my day.

Procrastination is a dried up prune in the corner of the room and I sit here toasting my success with a glass of freshly squeezed juice from the vines. It is refreshing!

I had to share this experience because I know that I am the only one who procrastinates, and that those who read this are always on time and on task in their lives. That’s right, isn’t it?