Lists of lists

and no excuses for not writing

You arrived. I am glad. Let’s have a cup of tea or coffee. I can’t wait to share what I have for you today.

On one wet and grey evening I looked at my to-do list on a purple post-it note on top of my laptop. Since all the things were accomplished (there weren’t that many) I picked the paper, crumpled it up and threw in a paper recycle basket. Felt good.

The next day’s list included “write a Substack draft.” I thought of getting started with it early. I first made a list of possible ideas. Here again, there weren’t that many.

I have mentioned list so many times that I decided to write a whole post as a list of lists. If anyone of you who says they don’t know what to write, you can choose one list to write. Plenty for many days. From the lists you can also go further if you wish to.

Lists

1. To buy lists – the mundane shopping lists are useful as memory aide and also help with sustainable choices to not overbuy. Don’t throw them away because the items on the list could be great source of writing topics. Write a memory of a carrot.

2. Wish lists - and birthday wish list, wedding gift lists, Christmas wish lists. You can write about the time your wish came true.

3. To-do lists – beneficial, especially when broken into smaller tasks, organized by category and prioritised by importance. At the same time, they are beasts that keep growing and feeding the perpetual not-enough feeling unless you change the game. You could write about tackling your to-do list as if you were on a mission.

4. Gretchen Rubin introduced a ta-da list and I loved it. Instead of listing what is ahead, keep track of what you have done and then at the end of the day celebrate your accomplishments. I once transferred a whole week’s to-do list into a ta-da list, and this was a mighty view. Look back at your ta-da list and reflect how it makes you feel.

5. Another version of lists for collecting accomplishment are checklists for daily habits you wish to establish. You got your daily mindfulness done – check, fifteen minutes of reading – check, twenty minutes of yoga – check. Day after day the checks collect, in apps they are in different colors and shapes, green dots, gold stars. It feels good to keep track. It feels good until one day you break your streak and start over. That is if you don’t give up because you felt like a failure. Any thought on this?

6. It is also a game changer when instead of all the tasks that deplete you, you start putting things that bring joy. And keep make-me-happy to-do list short. Why not – go for a walk, call a friend, read for thirteen minutes, write a list (any list).

7. Even better, instead of to-do list you can write a to-be list for a day and see how that makes a difference.

8. I also like less/more lists. Less TV/more writing is a recurring thing on this list for me. What about you?

9. To-be-read lists are a category of to-do lists, and sometimes they can create anxiety because the list keeps growing. At the same time if you turn this list into an actual tower of books in your home – the to-be-read pile, suddenly you experience the sweet joy of anticipation, and this joy is part of a beautiful life.

10. Bucket lists include all the wishes and dreams to make true in a certain time – could be for one trip, a summer, a decade or a whole life. I have made my summer lists two items only -sleep and read – no chance for disappointment, and instead of a bucket list of what could be I like to write the reverse summer list to include all the good things as I look back. If you already have a bucket list, take one dream and write more about it.

11. List with numbers to start with (you can change the number to anything you like)

Lists that social media posts often get attraction

· six reasons to stop writing lists

· seven ways to become rich

· eight exercises to lose weight

· nine new trends in living a successful life

Lists for reflection and planning

· five moments you loved the most last month

· four words that describe you the best

· three wishes for the next week

· two actions you will take tomorrow

Gratitude lists – my favorite lists, plus writing gratitude lists can alter your brain to notice the positive more often and collecting these small and big things adds towards a happier life

· three things that you are thankful for (daily),

· fifty good things in life

· or if you wish to stretch yourself - hundred things that I am grateful for

Personal lists – some things will confirm what you know, some may surprise you.

· ten favourite (foods, books, songs games, activities, places, objects etc.)

· twelve things what you can do, are proud of, have accomplished, want to be known for

· fifteen things that make you sad, happy, excited or annoyed

· twenty ways I make the world a better place

· thirty ways I am awesome

· fifty things about me as a writer

· hundred things about me as a reader

· (your age) lessons I have learned in life

You can write a list of lists of your own. Top ten three lists

To finish off, let’s not forget that lists can also create poetry. List poetry is a legitimate thing. You have a title and then you list things each on a new line and if at all possible, pull the whole thing together with an ending. (Not only poems but songs too can be lists. Sing along “My favorite things” from “Sound of Music.”)

“I am” poems, with simple words, eg. tea drinker, chocolate eater, page turner, step collector, or with metaphors eg. I am the doodling lines of the cracked sidewalk,
the small patch of leftover snow, the fresh green tip of a grass climbing out of the soil. Make the poems as long as you wish.

“How to be happy” could be as simple as short as:

Wash the dishes,
sweep the floor,
make a cup of tea,
take a book,
read.

“Thing to do if you are…”

Things to do if you are a toad

Smell the fresh morning air.

Listen to the sparrows chattering.

Count the blades of fresh grass.

Plan your destination.

Hop, hop, hop.

When a child comes,

Stop,

Freeze,

Pretend you are invisible.

She will pass.

Unless she is a girl

Mistaking you for a frog prince,

Wanting a kiss.

Nothing to do then.

“Thank you” poem might be a good one to finish this post

Thank you,

my friends,

for

trusting me,

telling stories,

sharing thoughts,

opening your hearts,

spreading inspiration,

nudging me forward,

noticing,

listening,

forgiving,

lifting me up,

understanding,

laughing with me,

celebrating together,

giving the feeling of belonging,

allowing me to be me.

Off to writing now. No excuses. Or, “Yes, excuses” if you make it into a list “Why I couldn’t write.” or we could have another cup of tea and you could share your relationship with lists and sing about your favourite things.