There is the creativity that can come out of lists. Last week I was involved in an expressive art workshop for Hospice volunteers. We were given a worksheet with suggestions on the left and space on the right to fill in our thoughts. Essentially we were creating word lists of things that make up who were are: places we’ve lived, family traditions, childhood games and toys, foods that define our family, specific ordinary items in our life, childhood hiding places. The next step is to start a line with “I am from…” and fill in the rest with words from the chart. Each time you get stymied, start a new stanza with “I am from….” A beautiful poem will surface without much stress or anxiety and can be quite revealing. Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t write a poem!

CLICK HERE FOR A COPY OF THE WORKSHEET

Likewise, a way to bring out the artist in all of us is to create a list of random things, thoughts, ideas, concepts, or situations to be photographed or captured on video. Visual scavenger hunts are a great way to bring a group of people together. I love to use them in family gatherings, classroom situations or as a challenge between friends. Offer up lists to different teams or individuals, set a time limit and then gather together later. The whole process can provide hours of fun and gales of laughter.

I suppose it has something to do with wanting to be organized and orderly and remember things. I was influenced by my father. He was a master list maker and kept scores of them in little spiral bound pads which he kept in his breast pocket. In the months before he died, over 13 years ago, we made new lists of who to call in case of an emergency, where to find important papers, where to find letters and other personal information. After he passed, I was faced with having to sort out 85 years of his life and stuff, but his lists and his organization made the chore a little easier. While I may be a maker of lists, I have not inherited his extraordinary filing system.

I have another friend who became obsessed with organizing her personal records before taking a large family cruise which was going to involve all the adults flying across large bodies of water at different times and she was worried that something might happen to her and then what? Would her sons be able to figure out where the important financial information was stored? A potential crisis loomed. The solution: create lists of directions on where to find things or how to do things. A map, of sorts. It’s the ultimate way to stay in control even if you may not be around.

This is my first entry as I navigate the labyrinth of blogs and blogging. The idea of a place to put all my lists and reading other people’s lists came out of school girl’s passion to organize random thoughts and lists. I once had a very organized journal of sorts, with tabs indicating the different sections: things I like, things I hate, best friends, worst enemies, tv show favorites, movies, etc. That was over 40 years ago. After returning to my 40th high school reunion recently, I was reminded of that journal and wondered if people still kept lists like that? I wish I still had that book. It probably would tell a lot about me!