Shards of Consciousness

Open Mic Night at Successful-Blog this week was focused around lists. As I was listing the types of list I use I started wondering if I use too many lists. For some people, the answer may be yes. For others it may be no. I said I have

• todo lists
• books that want me to buy them lists
• movies I want to buy lists
• Christmas lists
• goal lists
• shopping lists
• film delivery method list
• password lists

To this I have to add

• address lists
• inventory lists

And I'm sure I've forgotten some..

But that's the point. Normal memory can only hold so much. If we didn't have writing, each of us individually would be able to remember much more than we do now, especially if the information were formulated into rhythmic verse. But much of what we want to remember doesn't easily fit into verse, and technological life calls for many little details.

Lists To The Rescue

Writing was the tool we came up with for information that had to be remembered. And lists were one of the first major uses of writing. Lists have evolved over the millenia. We have ephemeral lists like shopping lists and todo lists. We have lists of more enduring value like phone books and checklists for accomplishing complicated tasks. We have semi-permanent lists such as legal contracts, including that greatest American list, the Constitution.

Without lists, how often would you be going back to the store for the eggs you forgot? How many phone numbers would you remember? Who would you forget when you do your gift shopping? Where would a court of law be when all the judge has to go on is he said - she said and the exact details of what was said wasn't remembered by either party?

Using Lists

Lists are my out of mind memory. Some I keep on paper, especially the ephemeral ones. Others I keep in my pim, where I create the framework of my day. Still others are in various types of files on my computer. These are like reference books. I have them. I know they're there when I want them, but I rarely look at them. The sheer act of making a list reinforces my memory, so the lists sum purpose is often served in the act of writing it.

Misusing Lists

Unless a list is a social contract, don't give it too much importance. Lists are meant to make your life easier, not harder. If you find your life revolving around your lists, you're doing it wrong. Your lists should revolve around your life. Lists are like habits - a place to put the prosaic while you engage in more meaningful activities.