Liberated

There are so many books and blogs that talk about how to achieve your life goals and happiness, things you should do to make the world a better place, you know the stuff.

But me, I've decided to smash my to-do list into pieces.

These are the things that I noted in the past that I "should" do:

• Plant a vegetable garden
• Write a book
• Read a book
• Return to volunteering on three nonprofit boards
• Go to Costa Rica
• Ride my own motorcycle
• Become a Big Sister or mentor
• Learn algebra
• Drive across the country
• Get a master's degree in something
• Play the piano again

All good things. But, one by one, I have let go of each of them. Rather than being sad about letting go of things that might make me a better person, I feel liberated. I feel lighter. Unburdened.

Maybe this makes me a bad citizen of the world, to just let go of good goals and dreams. Maybe people will think I've given up.

I haven't given up on life or on myself. I've come back to believing in myself. But I need to clear out the clutter of those "shoulds."

I'm taking care of a few non-fun things right now. When those things are done, I'll see where the road leads. I can't do it all at once, I'm not Oprah. Maybe I won't have the luxury of time to see where the road leads. Maybe I ought to feel more urgency about a road trip or community service. Right now, I just want to let it go.

Comments

[Kristin]

Algebra - WTF?

I have scaled down the veggie garden. I have given up on eggplants - they became an albatross with their tough skin (since I left them growing past their prime.)