Planning

Following my plan for today made me realize a few things that should be discussed in this group.

The first thing is a profound dislike of the term disabilities. It will always be more helpful to look for ways in which we can function than for the ways we can’t. Disabilities are government sanctioned labels to fit us into categories and excuse us for not doing. This does not mean we do not have limitations but every single human being has those and they are an individual thing. It also does not mean we should not be empathetic toward people with difficulties that we do not have. Marked parking spots are thoughtful and helpful but most programs that promote money as a solution to problems are not. In many cases we are throwing money at problems that are not fundamentally financial and doing far more harm than good. These “helps” steal our dreams and cause us to settle for less from ourselves because they are given with strings of non-productivity attached.

Let me tell you why this thought is attached to planning. I realized that because of my more recent limitations, I had to find a better way to use lists. It is unreasonable to expect of myself the same level of activity in a day that I was able to accomplish three years ago. Because old habits die hard, this is a difficult shift to make. The result is that the main list gets longer and longer and discouragement sets in. I am always finding that list of things that need doing is bigger than I can perform. Here are some of my current work-arounds.

1. Divide the world into 4 quadrants. Label each task with one of 4 labels a) Urgent and Important b) Urgent and Not Really Important c) Not Urgent and Important d) Busy Work. This last thing provides us with a sense of usefulness but does not provide results of significance.

2. Also divide the world in a way that gives you needed balance. a) Spiritual Needs, b) Physical Needs, c) Relational & Emotional Needs, d) Intellectual Development

In my more capable days, I would expect every day to be able to cross off my list at least 3 things of Importance (Not merely urgent) and make sure that in doing so I was touching on all areas of balance in my life. I found that deciding to never touch things that were not labeled important, crossed a lot of things off my list before I got started. Urgency can be tyrannical. If you decide to do this, let me give you some cautions and tell you what I changed.

1. I stopped trying to control the outcome of my activity and just focused on using my time to the best of my ability. I discovered that obeying God is the greatest use of the asset of time. He controls how much of this asset we get.

2. I learned the value of asking for help and the value of giving. I cannot afford to pay in money for all the things that need to be done, but I am constantly amazed by what people are willing to give. I am also amazed by how other people value what I have to give, and realize that I cannot put a price tag on it.

3. I realized that I needed to learn to work with volunteers, to understand their motivation, to develop better leadership and to gain delegation skills. The task in front of me was not always what I thought it was.

4. I separated out three lists from each other that have been labeled properly and kept active. The brain dump list is for all the great ideas that would be good to do while the task list is that small group of things that should be done as soon as we are able. I also have a prayer list of things I need to do, but am not capable of doing at the moment. I can let go of everything but what I am supposed to accomplish this way.

Limitations may lead us to the greatest discovery of ourselves that can occur. We are less important that we think ourselves to be but with God helping us use our freedoms to do right, we are also more capable of accomplishing than we are capable of believing. We are more than all we believe we can achieve because our God is the one in whom we trust the outcomes. Just do the right thing he puts in front of you, one day at a time. He’ll put within you a dream and he expects you to ask him for help most of all.

I am always open to hearing from you and desire as able to reply to you. My best contact at the moment is [email protected]