When you’re out of town “the stack” grows and grows. I’m sure there are ways to minimize the expansion of “the stack” but I haven’t figured them out. Today I looked that the stack both on the desk, in the office and on my computer. The stack seemed more like a monster and I was the kid trying to ignore it out of existence, but to no avail. SOOOOO, today, in the M2B:) spirit I decided to face the stack head on, and tackle the task one manageable piece at a time.
I was AMAZED at how many distractions pulled me from the belly of the beast. Errands that needed to be run, calls that had to be made, checking on this or that and of course, getting something to eat…and eat….and eat. I found that avoiding the task at hand had it’s own M2B:) moments, but they were cheats. Escapism as happiness is NOT the plan here at Mission To Be Happy Central Command. SO, I returned to the chair and strapped myself in with the stack taunting and teasing me. “I’m much bigger than you are! I’m much bigger than you are!” was the intimidating chant that filled the room.
Then, a break through. I snatched victory from the jaws of defeat. I got rid of the junk mail, and the semi junk mail, and refused to enter ANY sweepstakes or answer ANY questions regarding the warranties on our cars. I did a lot of deleting and felt empowered with each keystroke. At the end of the day I, mere mortal that I am, yes I WAS BIGGER THAN THE STACK…
If I stood on my tip-toes.
4 Comments
I can’t tell you what reading your Four in one did for me so I won’t. But if I had to try it would be a McLean-ism: I guess there’s no tellin you just how much your heart in the right place can do.thank you!
I am getting ready for my own “stack” as I pack up for the weekend and head off to Time Out for Women. Unfortunatly you won’t be there, I”ll have to wait until November for that pleasure, but fortunatly I will be with friends. So attack the stack and get back to life, who know what hidden joy you might find in that pile.
You can’t really reduce the size of a stack. BUT you can rearrange it. I do that. I spread the sub stacks out on the floor, call G in, point out again how much I do when he thinks I’m not doing anything, then I throw away the stuff that’s too old to worry about now, file what needs filing, pile things up in new configurations, and put it all back neatly on my desk. It never goes away. And there’s stuff in it that I actually WANT to do or buy or do something about. I remember walking down University when I was an undergrad -= a summer evening, and some old people were sitting out on their porch, watching the world go by and enjoying the air. In that moment, I was struck deep with envy. They were pretty much finished – choices made, fights fought – milestones passed. They probably had a stack, too. But we still have journey and summer evenings and the law of diminishing paper.
Wanna sit out on the porch with us?
Relieved to hear we are not the only ones with the Stack issue! Rearranging them was hazardous to the house!! I now have it narrowed down to one room to organize AFTER I buy more filing cabinets. I just cannot face the guest room while hubby is doing Seminary. There used to be a bed under all his stacks…looking forward to when school is out and we do not even have kids still at home!! ROFL!
Think baby steps in What About Bob………gosh I love that movie……..