Feeling Cornered by Making Lists

DP Photo Challenge, Experiences, Personal, Photos, , , 43 Comments

After my short exile from blogging, I subscribed to two writing courses to brush up my skills and reconnect with the blogger’s community.

It is Day two of the WP writing course, which is all about making a list. The task comes with a supposedly motivational message that ‘compiling a list is a way to let loose, unlock ideas, and free your mind.’

In fact, it triggers the opposite effect, if I’m requested to make lists of any of these topics:
* Things I Like
* Things I’ve Learned
* Things I Wish
* Things I’m Good At

I’m exhausted before even starting, as this feels as unattractive as eating a Mac Happy menu at McDonald’s.

It is not pleasant, and I feel cornered. I dread making any of these lists, because most often when going through these exercises in public, it seems like cliché, and not sincere. Perhaps it is simply a culturally sensitive dislike of mine.

To-do lists though are useful. I make them at work, to buy groceries, Christmas gifts, or for long waited home fixing items, the so-called procrastination list for dummies!

I track precious things, the real priorities that must be tackled first, without unnecessary distractions. This is very important for a multitasking mind like mine. Each time I tick a box acknowledging any action as done, I feel as accomplished as an Olympic gold medalist.

Let me stop running in circles and wasting your time, if you did not sleep yet, and made it to this paragraph. I’ll give it a try to use a different spin to list ‘Things I like’. Here it is:

  • The smell of rain
  • The sound of ocean waves
  • Thai green curry
  • Banana cake
  • The last kilometre after a 40 km bike ride
  • Staring at endless views from the top of a mountain
  • Reading the about page of bloggers
  • Listening to people’s life stories
  • Watching people in cafes and parks
  • Talking to strangers
  • Making a heartfelt compliment
  • Cooking without recipes
  • Helping people solving problems
  • The Eureka feeling of a photo that feels perfectly captured
  • Mind wandering whilst cutting veggies or washing dishes
  • Finishing all actions of my to-do list.

This feels like the worst post I have ever written. Let me add ‘never again do this type of compilation’ to my not-to-do list.

Alhambra, Granada – Spain

WP Photo Challenge: Corners

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Sharing sights & insights captured with diverse angles. Ex-corporate, now my own boss. Cycling, hiking, cooking, reading, yoga, writing and photography, are no longer only hobbies listed on my resume. It's what I do when I want.

43 thoughts on “Feeling Cornered by Making Lists”

  1. It’s nice to hear from you again anyhow Lucille. i think we have all had a hiatus from blogging, navigating these intense times, and it is quite hard to get back on a roll. so congratulations for starting your roll! xx

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    1. Hi Debbie, and it’s even nicer to have the privilege of your visit and of your patience to read this below par post!
      It’s wonderful to reconnect with you. Hope you’re well. Have you been reading the Baddie? I need to start visiting bloggers and to go there too.
      Joining the course has served to create some discipline to write regularly again and hopefully I’ll have time to keep it up.

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  2. LOL I thought this was a silly prompt as well. I love lists but for me they are for productivity. I almost just used my to-do list. But I liked what I ended up with 😊😊 I share most of the things you like. Mmmnnn banana cake!

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      1. Woo hoo! Thanks! Looking forward to it! Do you remember that day when we were chatting on WhatsApp and I complained about the smell of ripe bananas in my house and you made me make banana cake!?? 🤣

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        1. You still remember that? Wow!
          🤣 ripe bananas, anyone? We should perhaps start a food blog! I just said to Estelea that cooking without recipes is called creative cooking’, so we can conquer that together! You cover followers down under and I do upper above. 😂

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  6. I use lists every day, mostly for to-do items. I love the feeling of checking off each item as I get it done…or transferring it to the next day’s list. 🙂 Lovely photos as usual.

    janet

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    1. Amen! lol I had the same problem but found it later. I noticed that desley gets it earlier than me. It’s a time zone delivery, but you’re in Australia, so I don’t get it.
      I still didn’t get today’s prompt.
      Let’s have a banana cake!

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  8. I think there is a bit of consensus here about lists! Having said that, mine (should I ever be forced to write such a list) would read a bit like yours. Without the bike ride though; definitely without the bike ride.

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      1. Apparently it is. The Big T cycles and is quite excited about the National Cycle network that is being developed. From what I’ve seen the rides take in some wonderful scenery. And lots of hills!!!

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  9. Cooking without a recipe ? waou .. I think I could make an omelette, if I am lucky!
    tell you what, your list translates exactly who you are: generous, empathic, with a genuine interest for people. Welcome back my dear, you ve been missed ❤

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    1. Haha it’s called creative cooking! I just invented it. Maybe we make a day of creative cooking when I visit Vietnam and you’ll be amazed with your skills!
      You have been the most generous with your kind words about me. I’m just a common human being, making mistakes everyday but focusing on being good for others and not only myself.
      You’re surely have all these qualities listed and thousand more to be put in a list as you never cease to impress me as a superlative, humane individual.

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      1. ❤ ! and the creative cooking class is on the list, with a prior exploration of the local market with someone who can decipher the herbs and other strange veggies …

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  14. Finishing a to-do list is certainly one of the best feelings. What a relief. Lists aren’t a very inspiring prompt, it’s old and uncreative, but as long as it prompted you to write another post, it’s all good!

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