I’ve always been a list maker.

When I was a kid, I kept a list of all the books I owned, books I had read, and books I planned to read on a piece of notebook paper in the front of my binder. In alphabetical order, of course, which meant I was always rewriting it. I think in a way, this list making routine was a form of collecting for me. Collecting the names of books.

Maybe I should have been a librarian?

Even today, I have a strong urge to buy an old wooden card catalog case. It would make a nice place to store seeds packets. Or a catalog of book names, not that I have one anymore.

Really, I don’t.

But I do have To-Do lists.

Since we started this process of moving from Texas to Arkansas, I start a new list every morning, adding and marking off as I go throughout the day. I admit sometimes I add things I know I will 100% do, just to have something to mark off. Like the dentist. Last week when I had a dentist appointment, I added “go to the dentist” to the list so I would absolutely have something to mark off that night.

The whole marking something off is satisfying.

Each morning I rewrite the list, including those things I didn’t accomplish plus new items. There are always new items. I’m not sure what any of this says about me, but I do stay organized.

Are you a list maker?

Grace Grits and Gardening

Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

Paul Simon, Rewrite