Woke up unable to move. The muscles in my back "pretzelized" in the night. The only position that was comfortable was lying down face up. So that's what I did all day. My mind first started making a to-do list.
- Return the videos to the library
- Read this book
- Read that one
- Write my pages
- Go through magazines and catalogs
- Call this person
- Email that person
But I couldn't move. So none of it happened. I laid there and conceded that laying there was all I was going to be doing. Then I laid completely still and completely awake for hours. A new list emerged.
- The beep of a truck in reverse
- My neighbor's footsteps and keys jingling
- Her dog barking happily
- The roar of motorcycles and sports cars
- The hum of a hybrid
- A little girl telling her mom a story
- Skateboarder
- Hellish leaf blower
- Repeat
Near the end of the day I was able to prop myself up enough to take care of the morning pages, but only because I said I would. Not because I wanted to. But, I must admit, today's morning pages were more fruitful than most. Perhaps it's because I decided to forgo my list of things to do. This was a good lesson. To let go of the to-do list. Try it. It feels good.
What if you've been holding the to do list so long your fingers have actually grown into it? Or what if it's crazy glued to your hand?
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