Calendars

Enough of the tyranny of the calendar! We decided that if we don’t take the calendar by the horns (figuratively) it was going to rule us. So, we started scheduling (in pencil) the things WE want to do: take in Civil War sites, visit relatives and friends, etc. I’ve noticed some interesting effects of this:

1) Our calendar looks way more used
2) I feel busier, but more relaxed. I guess it is more stressful to always be thinking, “I should be doing X,” or “But I want to get Y done.” Now X and Y are on the calendar to get done, so I don’t have to beat myself up about not getting them done.
3) If I get a call “Can you do this project?” I can say freely yes or no. Since we coordinated what we wanted to accomplish, I don’t have to always check with John about what he had wanted to do/planned for that time.
4) It forced us to decide what we want to do.
5) It helps eliminate the necessity of thinking on our feet, then slapping our heads after making 2 commitments for the same day. If the day is full, the answer is no.
6) Since we put all the commitments on the family calendar, everyone knows where to look to see what is happening on a given day. That makes scheduling who gets the car easier, too!
7) Not everyone plans as far ahead as we find ourselves planning. Since weekends are prime real estate, most of our weekends are full for 3 months. When we call friends asking to see them 3 months before we are planning to come, the reactions are interesting! I think most feel sorry for us, that we are so busy. It’s not that we are so busy, but we want to be sure to accomplish what we think important, like seeing our friends.

The reason we use pencil: our plans are subject to change without our approval! We still live in a fallen world, and we don’t determine everything that happens in that world. Therefore, the unforeseen can happen. Writing in pencil reminds us the Lord is in control, and our plans are subject to Him.