I decided to look up the word procrastinate in the dictionary just to make sure I've been truly using it correctly.
Procrastinate. verb (used without object) 1. to defer action; delay: to procrastinate until an opportunity is lost.
Yep. I've been using it correctly. And, to the fullest.
I am a huge procrastinator and, as a result, I have let opportunities slip away. I know I'm not unique in this area. Many people struggle with this same issue.
I have a drawer filled with three children's books, one almost complete novel, a collection of short stories and poetry, endless script outlines, two songs and four plays. Just waiting. Sitting in that dark drawer. Waiting. Waiting to be taken out, polished, played with and pursued.
And then it hits me why I haven't gotten to them yet.
I'm tired.
I'm so tired. I feel like I haven't slept in 10 years (hmm, just around the time I gave birth to my daughter). After my work is done, and her homework is complete, dinner is cooked, bath is given, love and laughter is fulfilled and she is safely tucked in bed... for maybe a good three minutes I think, "Okay, now I'll work on that damn novel."
But before I know it I'm zoning out to The Real Housewives of Orange County and passing out with a dog on my lap and a cat on my head.
And those waiting projects wait some more.
After the procrastination and the excuses settle in I enter the next zone I like to call, "Look at J-Lo, you lazy bum."
That's right. Jennifer Frickin' Lopez. She's a single mom, has not one but two kids, a full time singing and acting career, she's a judge on American Idol, launching a new show with her ex hubby, has her own clothing line and is currently romancing a guy half her age.
You tell me the girl's not tired? And yet -- she's NOT procrastinating.
I marvel at the do-ers of the world. The people who seem to have endless energy. Organized. Good with budgeting time. You know, the people who get their taxes done and buy toilet paper in bulk.
Yeah, I'm a file for extension, single roll kinda gal.
I wonder how many inventions, cures, paintings, musicals, designs and so on are sitting in drawers around the world? Dreams of dreamers from all walks of life. All languages.
Waiting.
So, I decided today to begin a 30 day anti-procrastination plan. I will take action. NOT delay. Do one thing every day that I desperately want to put off until tomorrow or the next day or the day after that.
And I'll start... by writing this column.
