Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Anticipation

One of the elements of the Getting Things Done productivity system is the "Waiting For" list. It's not complicated; it's simply a list of what you are waiting for from other people. The knowledge that you are waiting for someone else before a task can be completed can be vital; but if you forget about the task while you're waiting for a response, then you've dropped the ball.

The "Waiting For" list can also be a place for more exciting items, like packages of books (I speak hypothetically) or upcoming albums from one's favourite artists.

Anticipation is a lovely, elusive thing (I will avoid copying Emily Dickinson and will therefore not call it "a thing with feathers"). My parents' phrase was always "delayed gratification," which still holds much merit. Saving a new book for a trip, or having only one square of chocolate a day instead of an entire bar of Green & Black, or saving a special tea for an afternoon with a friend -- the enjoyment may not be immediate, but then one has a double-savouring of thinking about the event and then the event itself.

In less than two weeks, one of my major "Waiting For" items will come to pass. It's not written on any index cards; I don't need any memory aids for this one. There is not a chance that I could forget. It's been in the forefront of my mind since I arrived in France. And I cannot wait until January 17th.

5 comments:

Mel said...

-___________- okay I have scoured the internets. Why?

Unknown said...

Ah, the old ketchup feeling! You probably don't remember that ad where people sing the old 'a n t i c i p a t i o n' song as they wait and wait for their fries to be drenched. Well, I could sing it for you on the 17th! I think of our excursion as being on the 16th since that is the start of the trip - yeah!! I started assembling stuff to pack but the suitcase remains zipped for now. Time will start flying by real soon - I hope. Love, Mom

Caroline said...

Oh Mel. : ) It's my parents coming for a week-long visit in France!

Mel said...

Oh, haha. I guess that's not something I would find under "2009" on Wikipedia...

Cameron said...

Awww, I almost just teared up at this post. I'm so behind on Marvelous Things!! xoxo