My Neurosis

It’s that time of year where my Unsinkable daughter and I begin to share our plans for the upcoming new year. I told her that I needed to talk out my “planner neurosis.” We both snickered because we are like two peas in a pod when it comes to planning and trying to find the perfect planner.

I was shopping for my perfect planner on Friday when I noticed that I do have a particular style of planner that I gravitate towards – a monthly layout along with a weekly / daily breakdown. Sometimes I need to see a ‘month at a glance’ and sometimes I need to only focus on a single day. I like to have an address section and I like it to be able to hold papers that I pick up at the doctor’s office, the store, bills, etc. So, the one book has to serve many functions. Oh! and did I mention that the planner must fit in my purse? You laugh, but the best planner in the world - my 1996 tapestry planner- was one of those spiritual Franklin Planner types. I had a bible (both Old and New Testaments), different 10 week bible lessons, a note pad, an address book, a goal setting section, perforated sheets to make removeable lists, a perpetual calendar, a monthly calendar, daily pages, a plastic sleeve for stamps, stickers, pictures. It also held 4 little slash pocket folders (work, home, church, family) and a seperate section for all of the various and assorted business cards. Yeah! That sucker weighed about 10 pounds and NEVER fit in my purse. (I still have that planner even though they no longer make the guts for it. I just can't seem to throw it away - it's a dear old friend.)

Now, Tim on the other hand, knows exactly what he wants – the same calendar that he buys every year and has bought for the past 10-15 years. A black, full-sized, Day Runner from Office Depot/Office Max; it never changes. I, however, vacillate each year hoping that I will find that perfect blend of efficiency, stylishness, artistically designed, simple – yet multi-functional planner. It eludes me – it’s like I'm Ponce de’ Leon trying to find the fountain of youth!!! You believe it’s out there, somewhere, you just have to keep searching until you find it.

Last year I finally concluded that I will NEVER find the perfect planner. I needed a dose of some good ol’ fashioned common sense and a good sensible planner. So this year, when it came time to find a new one, I told myself that I “get” to go shop for one and I don’t have to rush the task nor do I have to find one book that fulfills all my quirky demands. I can simply settle in for some fun of just looking around until I find one that will work.

Each year I go through the same thing….but I know I am not alone because my Unsinkable Daughter does the same thing, at the same time, and for the same item.
I suppose the nut really didn’t fall far from the tree.

ps. Yes, that first picture is the one I actually bought on Friday. (Barnes and Noble) And the other is a picture of my old tapestry planner. (The Believer's Life System - some parts have been discontinued.)