Things Left Undone

February 20, 2005

Since nothing else has worked, I've decided to publicly shame myself into doing a litany of things that I have put off for too long. So here is my list, in no particular order, of things left undone. Next to each item is the approximate time that it has been on my "to do" list.

Print a few photos in the darkroom (10 months)
Play the guitar for my kids (2 years)
Fix the leaky faucet in the kitchen sink or hire a plumber (7 months)
Play the violin enough to make a song sound nice again (5+ years)
Fix the photo printer (8 months)
Digitize a bunch of Harrod & Funck songs from tapes of concerts and demos, and then return the tapes to their rightful owners (4+ years)

Okay, call me "misery" if you want, but I'd sure love some company. Do any of you have items rotting away on your "to do" lists? If so, let the world (or at least 3 or 4 people) know by posting a comment to this entry!

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Comments (9)

1michelle wrote:

Dear misery,

You have company.

1. Scrapbook my son's life-- I started shortly after he was born. I am now approximately 5.5 years behind. He turned five last October.

2. Write about son's 5th birthday in his baby book (it's the last "official" entry.) See #1.

3. Organize and neatly put away in the furnace room all the Christmas decorations. (It's really not so bad since we are talking about this past holiday.)

4. Throw the Christmas tree that is sitting on the deck in the burn pit. See # 3. (Note: first remove the Christmas tree stand and put it away.)

5. Do filing at work (10 years)

6. Finish painting my bathroom (1 year)

7. Go spend time with some of the dearest people in the world-- my family, who live only about 45 minutes away (on-going)

I'm going to go write in my son's baby book now.

Thanks, Karl, for the incentive!

Feb 20, 2005 ; 11:11 AM

2nicole wrote:

Hi Karl...
As a person with precious little need for sleep, with an energy level that rivals the Tazmanian Devil, and as a person sans children of my own (although sometimes that's debatable with as much time as I spend with some of these New York babies!!), I have very few items on my "things left undone" list. Still, I thought it necessary to remind you of the things you have NOT left undone...

1. Marry one of the loveliest women on the planet

2. Create (yeee-ha!) and love, and raise two delicious children in a home goverened by God

3. Teach and inspire high school students to use the gifts God gave them in writing, or music, etc...

4. Do #3 for college students too!

5. Open a fabulous, successful coffee house, a haven that still today offers people a great corner for conversation and coffee

6. Purchase and make renovations on a home in which everyone who enters feels hugged.

7. Taught himself how to become the fantastic photographer he is today.

8. Designed a wonderful web-site that is smart, funny, and always thought-provoking.

9. Achieved near-black belt status in Karate.

10. Protected, loved, and saved the life of a young girl who is still trying to figure out a way to say thank-you...

I love you, Karl!!

Feb 20, 2005 ; 8:33 PM

3Sarah G wrote:

As I mentioned, my undone list is up in my blog:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/seagrit/10999.html

Thanks for making me think about what I've left undone in my life. It's a good reminder of how many things can get left behind when they'd be so easy to accomplish.

Feb 21, 2005 ; 9:47 PM

4dean wrote:

My undone work is too long to write about (ask Deb), but every day i am reminded with what I have to do. All that stuff can be put on hold until I find time to start and finish the projects. But the most important undone work will never be finished, like providing a roof over my family's head, raising my kids in a good enviroment and christain home and so on.

Feb 21, 2005 ; 10:54 PM

5Sean wrote:

Karl,

Have you ever read the Tao te Ching? "Tao abides in non-action, yet nothing is left undone."

The T.S. Eliot poem also reminded me of the Tao. "In the pursuit of learning, every day something is acquired. In the pursuit of Tao, every day something is dropped."

It's a paradoxical-sounding yet practical philosophy. My favorite translation is the one by Gia Fu Feng and Jane English.
http://www.daily-tao.com/

----------

Give up learning, and put an end to your troubles.

Is there a difference between yes and no?
Is there a difference between good and evil?
Must I fear what others fear? What nonsense!
Other people are contented, enjoying the sacrificial feast of the ox.
In spring some go to the park, and climb the terrace,
But I alone am drifting, not knowing where I am.
Like a newborn babe before it learns to smile,
I am alone, without a place to go.

Others have more than they need, but I alone have nothing.
I am a fool. O, yes! I am confused.
Other men are clear and bright,
But I alone am dim and weak.
Other men are sharp and clever,
But I alone am dull and stupid.
Oh, I drift like the waves of the sea,
Without direction, like the restless wind.

Everyone else is busy,
But I alone am aimless and depressed.
I am different.
I am nourished by the great mother.

Feb 22, 2005 ; 1:25 AM

6Karl Swedberg wrote:

Thanks for the recommendation, Sean. Some thought-provoking stuff there. I haven't read the Tao te Ching, but I have read the Tao of Pooh. ;-)
Hey, thanks also for the link from your blog. I'm honored.

Feb 22, 2005 ; 9:42 AM

7michelle wrote:

ummm...
does this mean Karl and I "win" for things undone?

Feb 22, 2005 ; 11:15 AM

8Karl Swedberg wrote:

That must be what it means, Michelle. Congratulations! And no fair, Dean, saying your list is too long to write about. Sarah's list, which she links to above, is worth a look-see. She gets extra credit, too, for trying to turn this idea into a "meme."

Feb 22, 2005 ; 12:05 PM

9Jason wrote:

i will trade you some H&F music whenever you get around to digitizing those! I'm a huge fan and have a fair amount of bootlegs.

Jul 27, 2007 ; 11:36 PM

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