Wherefore, this compulsion to make lists?
I wish I could say it was purely motivated by my lifelong, Virgo-esque pursuit of efficiency, but that thesis was shattered when I found that I derived exactly as much joy in composing a “have done” list as I did a “to do” list.
It’s got something to do with order, alright (pun intended); the more chaotic and random life seems, the greater my desire to exert some measure of control. Here are the steps I’m going to take to ensure that: (a) I buy my house before I’m too old to tend the garden I want surrounding it; (b) my cupboards don’t have three more jars of duplicate condiments moldering away in them; (c) I have clean underwear next week.
But clearly, the truth goes deeper than that. Because at some point, I can no longer resist the urge to tell the world—or the person next to me—or hell, myself, for that matter, that these are: (1) the best cover songs ever written, (2) my favorite 20 movies, (3) the blogs I think are worth visiting.
And what—or who—is left off: (i.) the best- or worst-dressed lists; (ii) the bazillion incarnations of red or blue lists; (iii) the most-viewed TV shows of last night lists; is as telling as who—or what—makes it on.
For me, lists are a way of getting at the truth, albeit in code. I have an intention to buy a house, therefore I make a list. I have fascination with cover songs, movies and the Internet, so I make a list. I don’t have enough time (or courage) to write essays declaring my love, so I make lists.
Of course, I’m not alone in rockin’ the list. Lists must be inherently fascinating to most humans or they wouldn’t have such a presence on late-night talk shows, Apple’s fascistic music delivery system and people’s personal websites.
Which reminds me…
To do:
- make list of lists I want to make
- code lists with links
- upload to blog
xxx
c
{ 1 comment }
Lists make it easier to think about everything, it’s that simple act of puttng pen to paper. They organise our thoughts, take them from abstract possiblities in our minds to lead&paper solid realities…It also makes it easier to see which possibies are realiy attainable and those which are encuraging daydreams, but no easy tick-off-by-tomorrow job. Whilst the thoughts are in the mind, it is easier to lose perspective than when we see things on paper. There is a satisfying ‘grit’ to that, a sense of being in control of what is going on, that is kind of empowering and that drives forward ideas into reality. i like that sense of accomplishment and wonder, when something as ephimeral as an idea con somehow be conjured into paper and that leads me to envision the next step, and the next and the next. That is a beautiful feeling.
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