The Thirtieth Question: Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Saying goodbye to that To Do List stalwart

I’m a bit late here, so just going to dive right in and throw you your prompt.

Write a break-up letter to a goal you’ve set but made no progress towards.

This week I processed my notes from reading Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals. One of the ideas the author discussed that really stuck with me is that sacrifice is what gives our choices value. You do X instead of Y and the fact that you are willing to forgo Y is what makes X meaningful. Choosing to play tennis instead of go for a run imbues that choice with significance and meaning, about how you see yourself, the activity, and your time.

Adjacent to that, the book discussed the idea that we can all only have so many priorities at once. Success comes not in juggling 25 things, but in managing and executing 5 with total focus. To do that we have to part ways with the priorities we often list, but rarely move towards. Wanted to learn a second language for years, but never taken a class? Wanted to learn to cook, but never bought a cookbook. It’s time to give up! Yes, go for it! Throw in the towel! Celebrate not caring!

So, what can you part with? Pick one activity, and say goodbye. In the letter consider identifying why you wanted to pursue it in the first place, why you never did, and what that might mean. Maybe explore how you would have pursued it had you made the choice to do so.

Good luck.

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