Plotting My Way Through Life
My "nephew" (not a blood relative, but he's my nephew at heart) had his Bar Mitzvah last weekend.For those of you not of the Jewish faith (like myself), the Bar Mitzvah is a huge deal. There was Friday night service and a reception at the synagogue. There was the actual Bar Mitzvah on Saturday morning and a bigger reception at the synagogue afterward. There was the Saturday night reception—the only catered portion of the weekend. And on Sunday there was a brunch following a golf tournament.
I baked. And baked. And baked some more.
But before I baked, I planned. It started with menu plans in diagram form. I had eight sheets of paper spread out across the dining room table. I made notes, crossed them out, drew arrows, calculated.
At the end of the planning session, I had an outline of the items I was baking, how many I was baking, and for what day. Then I broke it all down another level. I needed a shopping list. I had to figure out trays and packaging for transport. I had to consider ingredient limitations and timing and refrigeration.
When I was finished, and I looked at my baking itinerary, I realized I had just plotted my portion of the Bar Mitzvah menu.
I’m a big plotter. Not the nitty-gritty details, but right up to the edge of them. And the way I worked those lists and schedules for cooking made me wonder if I was a born plotter or if I evolved into one. I suppose that level of planning goes into most things in my life. I see the big picture. I like to be prepared. I feel…safer…when I know where I’m headed.
Do you notice that your pantster or plotting methods extend to other areas of your life?
Labels: Joan's posts
posted by Joan Swan at 6:52 AM
1Comments:
Joan.
I'm the opposite. I am much more disorganized when it comes to my personal life than when it comes to my writing. I don't plan, or plot-- I just sort of slip and slide my way through things...grin
Interestingly, though. I am very organized at work. I don't forget or let anything slip or slide away from me. Everything is done when it is suppose to be. So apparently I treat the writing like a business/job.
Theresa
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