The Cambridge English Dictionary actually gives a definition for getting one’s act together. Go figure. The good lexicographers offer the following as a definition: “To start to organize yourself so that you can do things in an effective way.”
Well, that is pretty much what I have always thought it meant. That is how I know I am not accomplishing it! The outcomes of my actions are not leading to my being effective at all.
I had plans to do great things this weekend. Friday sort of went to ‘holy hail Columbia’ because I spent all day shall we say “discovering the joys” of the new computer system at the office. I was sure I would rally and get lots done this weekend. Did I mention I am a cockeyed optimist?
First of all, my CCTV betrayed me. The battery went dead and refused to power back up. My husband thinks it is the transformer. That is the black box on the cord for us uninformed.
The replacement CCTV is supposed to be here Monday. That gives me several days to work under my back-up system, the iPad on my Justand. Not too bad. I fussed around until I got it so I could write under the iPad. Finding where I was supposed to be writing was ‘fun’. There seems to be a spatial distortion between where things are in reality and where they look to be magnified on the iPad screen. There were times I was using both hands to figure out where I wanted to write! Reading notes to type from was easier.
The other problem was the iPad kept going to sleep! Somehow it had been set to go dormant after two minutes of inactivity. In case you don’t know, you go into Settings to fix that little problem. [Lin/Linda here: click here to go to instructions on how to change the auto sleep option on the iPad.]
I got the iPad set so it goes to sleep after a half an hour now. You can also set it so it never sleeps if you wish. I did not.
I had five psychological reports to write this weekend. I have one finished. Another almost done, another one is half done. I keep discovering I don’t have what I need to complete the job. For years I drove a station wagon or a hatchback. The cargo spaces were always full to overflowing with tests and scoring manuals. Now, if I am working at the office, half the time what I need is home. If I am home, it is at the office.
I find myself constantly changing direction because my original plan had been thwarted by not having the right materials for the job. Very frustrating.
So, to sum up, it appears I need to stop expecting great things. I have to stop thinking I should have it all together. Things break. There is a learning curve for every new skill and mastery takes time. Having duplicates for everything is just plain expensive and I cannot practically do that. This is my dose of my ‘new reality’.
Therefore, today I will finish what I can. Four half-done reports? So be it. At least I am closer to the goal than when I started. That will have to be good enough. Progress now. ‘Perfection’? Maybe later.