By The Way...

Tuesday, May 22, 2007
11:39:00 AM EDT
Hearing Yellow -- Petra Haden
I was going to get these lists linked to earlier, but then I wasn't feeling very good about myself.

Just kidding.

But I do find two lists online fairly interesting. The first is "10 simple ways to save yourself from messing up your life," and the second is "Four reasons why we procrastinate," and for some reason my brain just makes the association between the two of them.

Personally I think the first list could reasonably be boiled down to "Don't think so damn much; just get on with your life," which I think generally speaking is reasonably good advice. In this particular case, I think the person writing the list goes a bit overboard -- if you followed every bit of advice here, you'd end up worrying about nothing, which is not always such a great thing, either. I think the secret here is to learn when, with the particular subjects here, thinking about these issues turns into overthinking about them. That's the trick, it is.

As for the second list, well. I'm a procrastinator. I resemble some of those points. Alas. Although I don't always think procrastinating is a negative; I can think of at least a couple of writing projects where part of the reason I procrastinated on them was that I was simply wasn't done thinking about the project; starting earlier wouldn't have gotten the project done earlier, it just would have meant I'd have done more rewriting. However, even factoring that in, I procrastinate rather too much. Something to fix.


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This entry has 2 comments: (Add your own)

• #2 Comment from psychfun 
  5/23/07 12:42 AM | Permalink

  Love those in the comments! Ya, I'm leary about this motivational speakers ideas...they are not psychologists & quite frankly I've seem much better on these topics. Joseph Ferrari at DePaul has a wonderful article on Procrastination which identifies the types & what to do about each type. Anything short & sweet is usually not too helpful. Life is not that simple & just saying "Do It" really doesn't help many! The balance of things is better. Sometimes "your self-critic" is wise...probably not a good idea to drive when I've been drinking is something we wish we had more of! Too many can just use excuses not to improve...awe they are worse than me! This is why these just don't do it.
• #1 Comment from monponsett 
  5/22/07 1:39 PM | Permalink

  I never read such a list of New-Age monkey crap in my life.
  
  Here's how you avoid screwing up your life:
  
  - Absolutely never take any shi* whatsoever. Once you get used to the taste, the next batch will go down easier. Before long, you're somebody's hourly-wage b**ch.
  
  - Laws are more like Guidelines. Laws are relative. Laws change. Do as much as you can get away with.
  
  - Two things really matter in this world... Money and Looks. Few have both. If you're good-looking, attach yourself to someone wealthy. If you're wealthy, marry a looker. You'll both be happy.
  
  - Always know someone- even if you don't know them that well- who will commit crimes for money.
  
  - Never work as a stripper in the town you teach high school in.
  
  - No matter how much bigger or skilled your foe is than you... you can always go to the eyes.
  
  - Don't gamble with anyone named after a city, or named "Doc."
  
  - You're not really sick until a doctor tells you.
  
  - Money and fam don't mix, like two guys with no chicks....
  
  - Master your high.