I am a list maker. But I'm also pretty disorganized. At work I often have three lists with just about the same stuff on it. The cool part about that is that I get to cross off my accomplishments three times!
But at home it means I usually have about 10 notebooks floating around with different versions of lists. Last week I found a notebook that I had used in 2008-09; then it got buried in a box. It included a list of OCD-related things that I was going to stop avoiding in 2010. It included this line: avoid shoe segregation. Well, I'm pretty sure I accomplished that one, because I can't even remember what it meant. I know there have been times I thought a shoe was "contaminated" due to something I've walked through, but I don't remember avoiding a shoe for this reason for a long long time. I guess I did in 2009, though.
Similarly, I wrote "no Purell." Now, when I'm out and about I still often WISH I had Purell with me, but I never carry it around anymore.
The list reminded me that I'm glad I make (and lose) these lists, because it lets me really see that I do make progress, even when I don't notice it.
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You are stronger than you think!
1 year ago
I think when we look at things day-to-day, in so many aspects of our lives, it's easy to think we aren't making progress toward our goals. So glad you found that list so you could see how far you've come!
ReplyDeleteThis gave me a chuckle at the thought of you making the lists and then losing them. I do something similar--I make them, and then never look at them again.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the progress you've made, even when you weren't noticing.
Success and progress can be sneaky at times. I think it is easy to forget or not realize just how far we have come. I'm really glad for you, Ann!!! You've worked very hard and you deserve every inch of progress.
ReplyDeleteCongradulations! here's a pat on the back from me, too!
ReplyDeleteThat is awesome Ann. The fact that you forgot what the shoe segregation meant made me laugh out loud. Love that.
ReplyDeleteChiming in with congrats for forgetting shoe segregation. That's fabulous. It's great to see things slowly changing for the better. Excellent.
ReplyDeleteAdventures in Anxiety Land
Congrats!!! I loved this post because you're right - we are making progress even if we don't see it all the time. Actually, more importantly even if we don't FEEL it all the time. Right now I'm in an OCD swamp, and I don't feel like I've made any progress at all, but objectively I know that I have.
ReplyDelete