Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: PROCRASTINATE (08/04/16)
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TITLE: The Cure | Previous Challenge Entry
By Sylvia Young
08/11/16 -
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ADD TO MY FAVORITES
“I’m tired.”
“I have a headache.”
“My feet hurt.”
“It’s not going anywhere.”
These are just a few examples from my litany of excuses to put off…well, anything ‘til tomorrow
Why? Well, in truth, I’m lazy. As I consider the list of deadly sins, it’s clear to see that I’m guilty of sloth. Procrastination comes from laziness.
My whole life has been a series of last minute study preparations, late night essays and excuses upon excuses of why one thing or another can wait until tomorrow. Why do I hate doing things now? I’m not entirely sure, but I’ll take a stab at explaining it.
I think we are born a certain way. God created us different, each one. I don’t think He necessarily said, “I think I’ll make this one lazy”, but it happened just the same. Maybe He allows it so that people turn to Him, realizing that they are not perfect and need Him.
Well, I wish I had something else to work on. Being a procrastinator is not as easy as it looks. In fact, it’s exhausting. Coming up with reasons why this or that is better be done tomorrow takes creativity and effort, especially when you want to convince yourself! Just saying that there’s something good on Netflix wears thin after a while.
Sometimes I feel guilty about my laziness, but other days I just, well, can’t be bothered to feel guilty. That’s also a lot of work.
So, I make an effort to overcome my laziness. I look for shortcuts and gimmicks, ways to trick myself.
One day many years ago, my mother came home with a circular piece of paper on which had been written the word “tuit”. Puzzled, I asked her what it meant. She laughed and dangled it by its string in front of me.
“Well, I’ve always need to get a round ‘tuit’,” she replied with a grin. “And now my friend has given me one!”
I shook my head. “I don’t get it.”
“Think about it.”
I did, but it didn’t help. “Mom, just tell me.”
She sat and faced me. “So, you know how people are always saying that they’d do this or that when they get around to it? Well, now I have one. I have a round ‘tuit’, so I have no excuse not to do those things anymore.”
The simple cleverness of the word play astounded me, but more, it snuck into my mind.
“I need that round ‘tuit’,” I proclaimed. “Much more than you do!” My mother, unlike me, had never been prone to indolence.
Laughing again, she extended the light blue paper circle to me. “I know you do.”
Well, that thing worked for a little while, but as with many weaknesses, gimmicks soon lose their charm. It takes a contrite heart and a sincere wish to change…and prayer.
But, be careful how you pray, and what you pray for. If you want wisdom, God will give you situations that help you learn, and they may be painful. If you pray for patience, God will give you people in your life that force you to learn it, and if you pray not to be lazy, God will give you children.
That’s right. I’m not lazy anymore, mostly because I don’t have the option! I can barely sit for five minutes before one or another of them needs something.
So, now I don’t put things off that much because if I do, the consequences will extend beyond me, and I don’t want to do that to my kids.
As with most things, when faced with a trait about yourself that you don’t like, the best option is to pray. You may not like the way God answers, but He will give you what you need…every single time.
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