How Does She Do It?

Yes, I know, dear friends… I have been remiss. I have not written here on Suburban Island as often as I ought to do of late. It is not for want of desire. It is more a time available versus number of tasks to be done issue. I am overwhelmed - it is true. So are many others, I am convinced. However, a busy life can be a great pleasure – since it even affords one the added bonus of complaining about it and enjoying the commiseration and grudging admiration of your friends and acquaintances. How does she do it all? They ask - just a little begrudingly.

Well, I am going to tell you the secret. You may be relieved to know it.

The secret is – she doesn’t. Or, at least, I don’t. It’s all an illusion. The truth of it is that there are more tasks on the lists that we all keep on paper or, if you are more daring - in your head, than can really ever be done by even the most dogged and diligent of us. Getting it all done - really all done - is quite unlikely. The trick is to keep the right balls in the air and kick the ones you drop quickly aside with as little fanfare as possible, so that they go quite unnoticed until you can scoot over and pick them up when you have the time or inclination.

My approach has always been to keep a positive attitude and do what must be done, as well as diving into the stuff I want to do so desperately that I will even give up my sleep for it. For the rest, I say – let the chips fall where they may. Sometimes this approach works splendidly and then I feel the glow of real accomplishment. I have picked the right things to do and to neglect.

My tactic for getting it all done without really doing it all is not for the faint of heart. Sometimes we lose our cell phone service because I forgot to pay the bill. Sometimes there is milk and bread in the house before the big snowstorm. It's not foolproof but then, some might say - what's the fun of that? When it all goes well there is bread and milk in the snow and cell phone service too. Of course, I do not believe that I am the only one who is taking this approach. It is just that I may be one of the few who is willing to admit it. I do so for the good of all who feel that others are beating them out in the great competition of life. Don't worry. We're all struggling.

Come on - you with the lists and the glow of accomplishment that is the envy of all those who know you. You don’t get it all done either. Admit it. Even if just to yourself.

There. Don’t you feel better?

I do.