I used to be a very organized, project-oriented person... really I did. I hear people describe me, sometimes, to others, and the 'organized' word nearly always comes up, along with some reference to completing so many projects. For me, being organized means that things have a place and they are there, to be found in that place... it means that when I go to reach for some piece of information, I know just where it is, I can locate it or tell someone how to locate it...it I means that I have an idea of the 5 or 10 things that need to be executed to make something happen and I know what's been done and what hasn't. And, well, completing projects has always just been highly euphoric for me.
These days, I've been doubting my organizational and project completion skills, not that I'm so attached to them or feel like they define me. But, lately, things happen that make me feel like my life must be in chaos without me even realizing. It's like suddenly 'waking up' while driving and wondering where I am... What are these projects and how did they get here?
Take my New Year's anti-UFO initiative. I spent time going through my UFO's, my WIP's, my soon-to-be projects and thoughtfully reviewed them. Why am I stuck? Do I like this or that? What should be done to fix those stuck and move to completion. I frogged some, fixed some, completed some. By Thursday evening, I was so damn proud of myself because I was down to 1 sweater in progress (Emerald), 1 sweater undone and reworked back to where I was and able to happily resume (Central Park Hoodie), and 1 pair of socks (I always have a pair of no-brainer socks going). The list of projects, of which I was sure, came from my certainty that I knew where everything was and how they were organized.
Fast forward to Friday evening... John has misplaced his glasses. We looked in all the normal places, then expand the search to the dining table, the bookcase and beyond. OMG... more projects... how did they get there? I don't even remember putting them there and have no idea why I haven't worked on them. One is a most lovely Helix Scarf with beads. It's not difficult and I'm pretty thrilled to have found it again. But why was it in this random location? Then there is the Scribble Stole out of Claudia's handpainted ribbon yarn and some gorgeous alpaca/tencel handpainted lace yarn. I think it was to be a festive holiday wrap, but for what occasion? And how did it land under the tv console?
I shouldn't leave out the Peak's Island Hood Scarf I rediscovered that needs reworking one end, and the woven jacket that still needs to have the finishing done, both tucked away on low bookcase shelf (well, behind some other things!).
All this brings me to the realization that I love to start things, but have become a lousy finisher, even when I think I'm highly motivated. And, apparently, I put them out of sight, out of mind, in pure and total avoidance. So, this week, I'm going to finish at least one of these newly rediscovered projects and maybe, maybe, well maybe, not start something new! This didn't use to be so challenging, but then again, I never had so many things to entice me!!
