A List About Lists

• My name is Tiffany and I am a chronic list maker. I admit it. I habitually write lists. I am addicted to it. I’ve always been aware of this little quirk of mine and I’ve accepted it- it is the cross I bare, so to speak.
• There is a possibility that this tendency is genetic. In a recent conversation with my sister, she admitted that she has been trying to cut back on the amount of lists she writes as it can get overwhelming. Though, I totally know the feeling and wish her the best in that endeavor- my first thought was “Thank God I’m not the only one!”
• So, now that I have just put it out there, allow me to draw you a little deeper into this idiosyncratic world of mine.
• One would think that the traditional “to do list” is what a chronic list maker, such as myself, chronically makes. Oh how naïve one would be to assume such a thing, for the “to do list” is merely the beginning of the countless kinds of lists that can be made. It is the door, if you will, into the sick little world of a list maker.
  Though it is just the tip of the iceberg, I frequently write to do lists. I write to do lists for the day and for the week- sometimes even for the month. I write to do lists for what I need to do at home, what I need to do at work, what I need to do online, etc. Sometimes my to do lists are random items that need to be accomplished, place almost haphazardly on some sort of paper.
• Other times, I categorize the items either by priority or type. For instance, if I categorize by type, I group together items that are similar. All of the errands, the phone calls, the paperwork, the chores, the leisure activities, etc are all grouped separately. I can then tackle it one category at a time if I so desire. If I am prioritizing my to do lists, then I usually number the items, otherwise I use bullet points or dashes. (Just a personal preference.)
• If you think that is sick, I warn, it only gets more ridiculous as I go on.
• Then, there is the grocery list. Those who know me well know that I have been a grocery shopper for many moons. As a junior higher, it became one of my chores and I loved it. (Right there we have a problem, don’t you think?) I got to help plan the menu and make the grocery list for our family’s meals. Then, once a week, I would go to Winco with my dad to do the shopping. Due to the longevity this particular list making ritual has had in my life, it has been streamlined to maximum efficiency- the root desire for many list makers. Not only is the template for my grocery list categorically organized (yes, I have a template that I use), but it is also tailored for the specific store where I shop. That’s right folks- my list takes me from the entrance of the store and efficiently makes a path to the registers to check out with minimal backtracking.
• I told you it would keep getting more and more…sick.
  The packing list has also served me well long term. I remember some of my first packing lists scribbled on my Strawberry Shortcake stationary. Even then, it was organized by categories: toiletries, clothing, accessories, toys, etc. One of my best works for this type of list was for a trip a few years ago. I color coded the clothing items that could be mixed and matched for different outfits. How completely satisfying that list was!
• Wish lists are a variation of the traditional “to do list”. These lists are, as the genre clearly states, are things I wish to do, see, go, read, watch, etc. I have ongoing lists of places I wish to travel, activities I wish to try, books I wish to read, movies I wish to watch, etc. Sadly, I add to these lists more frequently than I cross off.
• Writing a list of favorites is also a practice of mine. Often these lists become excellent references later on. For example, a list of my favorite children book authors comes in handy when I am in a bookstore pursing the children’s section, looking for new titles. A list of favorite desserts to make comes in handy when planning the menu for a shower or some sort of gathering that requires a surefire treat to serve!
• Lists to brainstorm- I actually teach my third graders to write lists when they are brainstorming for a topic they want to write about. I teach them to list whatever they know about the topic, questions or wonderings they have about it, where they could find out more about it, etc. The list becomes a great prewriting tool. Hopefully I don’t pass on the tendency to over do it when comes to lists to my third graders!
• What compels me to write lists? Well, there is the sense of accomplishment that comes with crossing off an item- never erasing, always crossing off- one solid and sure stroke with a blue ball point pen. That’s my favorite way. When a list is completely crossed off, you feel like you have conquered something. Also, there is a sense of order about a list. All that needs to be done is not floating around aimlessly in your head. A list takes the pressure off of your memory and creates more brain space for more relaxing thoughts and ideas to float about.
• I think that lists are simple, efficient, and get to the point without other words blubbering on and on and getting in the way. (Well, most lists anyway….)
• I probably will continue to write lists as it is just who I am. It’s part of what makes me, me. So, with that, here’s to all the list makers out there that know exactly what I am talking about!