Costly Interruptions

“The major problem of life is learning how to handle the costly interruptions. The door that slams shut, the plan that got sidetracked, the marriage that failed, or that lovely poem that didn’t get written because someone knocked on the door”.
–Martin Luther King, Jr.

I wake up every morning knowing exactly what I need to do for that day. I go to bed every night knowing exactly what I’d forgotten to do for that day. Somewhere in between, I got greedy, arrogant, lazy, or all of the above and more.

I always seem to think that today’s 24-hour day will have more time than yesterday’s 24-hour day. That by doing one activity faster (more efficient), I can add an extra activity to my agenda.

I answer the phone thinking that the person on the other end of the line will offer something of value greater than what I was doing at that moment.

I do research to confirm what I already know in my heart to be true.

I spend time angry, hateful, fearful, resentful, boastful, suspicious, paranoid, overanalyzing, distrusting, overpreparing, and in denial.

I spend twice as much time and effort half-admitting to things that I will ultimately fully admit to anyway.

I force my unrested mind to be creative.

I spend time regretting having wasted time instead of resting my mind.

I write down a 1-minute task on a to-do list instead of just doing it.

I choose to take the time to allow myself to be offended by strangers.

Instead of listening to my instincts, I look at the clock.

Instead of listening to my instincts, I surf the Web.

I buy products that will take up more space in my life.

I now realize that every time I want to write that lovely poem, someone will inevitably knock on the door. But then again, I put the door there. I put myself on the other side of the door. I told everyone where to find me. I bought the welcome mat. I installed the door knocker. I added a doorbell.