How is your to do list doing? Are you an “Evernoter”? Using those cute little boxes to document your daily, weekly and sometimes minute to minute successes? Admittedly, I am. It helps me to remember to send a photo to school on Tuesday with one child, make a haircut appointment for another, and run the other errands essential to home and work life. It gives me a sense of organization and accomplishment.Without it, I forget things and don’t remember until they have reached ” critical status!” It helps me control daily chaos and make sure there is milk in the fridge… And coffee… There must always be coffee.. But there are bigger ticket items that you have to keep track of as well.

Take for example my swimming pool. It’s always on the brink of turning green. One bad call weekend and it’s fit for tadpoles. It needs regular attention- not a lot, but just enough. Overlooking one of the small details leads to algae bloom disaster.

The big ticket life items need attention too, or they fall apart. Like checking your roof for cracked tiles and signs of wear…Or the veggie drawer in the fridge for signs of decay (oh-the things I find), you’ve gotta do the same with your personal relationships- your parents, your children, your friends, your significant other… And of course, your career, finances and life goals. Its a bit like a bunch of bags on a merry go round and its spinning – Sometimes like crazy – and you gotta make sure that each bag stays on, stays healthy, grows, blooms and matures. We don’t do it. I know I didn’t. I grabbed life by the horns and put both eyes on the bag that said career and didn’t look right or left. I didn’t see the signs of decay in my marraige . I didn’t notice the cracks, chips, tiles flying off right and left… Until I had kids and I began to divide my attention between work & home and tried to begin to attend to the job of responsibly raising a family.

You live, you learn. You learn that a good relationship takes attention, caring, kindness, respect and effort- from both sides… With each child, with your significant other, with each friend. Ladies, one day those adorable time-mongering children will move away, and based on statistics, your beloved will pass before you… And you’ll be left with your girlfriends. So keep them close. Plan social events. Dedicate your precious time and effort to these friendships.  

So make a mental note, or jot down on paper (like your grandma), or get out your Evernote app and go through your big ticket items. Financially are you ok? If you have kids, do you have a will? A living will? College savings account?  

Emotionally and physically are you ok? Have you seen your doctor? Do you have unaddressed health (mental or physical) concerns? Do you exercise? Have you had a mammogram? You are the biggest big ticket item!

Do you have a significant other? If not, do you want one? and how are you going to tackle THAT?  If so, how’s it going? Check that relationship over for cracked tiles, or even the roof falling off and get it back on the rafters. Lose the resentment, the passive aggressive games. They only serve to get the roof off faster or leave it divided in 2 parts with monthly payments to your ex.  Express appreciation, and make your need to be appreciated clear. 

Kids? Take time and address it all! Have a list of important topics to cover with them – sex, drugs, driving, texting. They need your attention and support. Listen. They have a lot to say and sometimes it seems like constant chatter,but hear what they have to say. Make sure the dominant message they are receiving is a positive one!

Call your mom! 

Let’s do this. I’ve got my little box filled list ready to mark my accomplishments and encourage me to check off those items I love to put off. This go round, I’m keeping my roof on.