I’m addicted to the Great Courses on DVD. During one of the classes I am taking, I heard this statement: “The greatest deterrent to learning is procrastination.” It has stuck with me and I am aware of the time I waste that could be used for the better. Of course, I rationalize it to my advantage by saying, “I am retired. I am entitled to do what I want anytime I want. I am too tired. I need to rest. This is more fun, etc., etc.”

Later, I get quite angry with myself for giving in to my desire to “put off until tomorrow” in favor of something I’d rather do today. Of course, the task I have neglected to do is still undone.

Yesterday is a good example. I had three jobs I wanted to accomplish, which is not much compared to all of those I have already neglected to do. Every spring, the National Honor Society at the nearest high school hosts a prom for the residents of The Forum at Desert Harbor where I live in Independent Living. The residents vote for the prom king and queen. So, I had to submit my ballot for the prom royalty, attach my new license tags on my car, and get my income tax papers accumulated to take to the accountant.

First, it was too cold to go outside to put the tag on the car, so I didn’t do that one.

Second, I did vote for prom royalty and made a special trip down three flights to deposit the ballot (which would count for my exercise as well.)

But, when I thought about getting all the tax paperwork out of the file drawers, I said to myself, I have two weeks to get it ready, it doesn’t have to be done today. So, I didn’t do anything except play Spider Solitaire and doze in my chair under the pretense of watching a course on teaching.

Recently, I decided to write my memoirs. While I was gathering stories and vignettes to include in the book, I recognized that I was wasting time. So, I wrote an article about it (more waste of time). We all know that by fiddling away our productive time, we never get it back. But here I am doing the same thing . . . again.

Having recognized my failing for the umpteenth time, I hereby promise myself to set a time for each task and refuse to be interrupted until it’s completed.

(Oh well, I’ll wait until New Year’s Day for that one.)

(written by Dorothy Dettmering, member of The Scribblers of Ventana Lakes)