Making a U-turn or making better choices?
Ever thought it was time to make a U-turn when it comes to some of your decisions?
In his normal savage style my teenage son reminded me the other day :
“Didn’t you have a list of stuff to do before you’re old or something? When you doing it?”
I do indeed have a list of stuff.
And I am indeed, currently, not doing it.
Consider me called out!
In exactly 8 months I will be 45. This means I have only 5 years left to complete the Kettle list and I am currently on a woeful 7/50.
The Magnificent Seven – Just in case you are interested
#3 Pass my driving test
#14 Visit Japan
#21 See the Hollywood sign in California
#32 Get an article or piece of work published
#34 Plant a tree
#37 Perform 50 acts of random kindness
#38 Volunteer for 50 + hours
What this means…
Just writing the above has highlighted a few things to me.
One: I really need to keep up and write some more Kettle List related articles.
Ironically I am so busy trying to complete the tasks on the list, I don’t often get around to writing them up. My America trip is a case in point. It’s time I got on to that one.
Two: Some of the things on the list no longer serve me.
Some of the tasks were added 5 years ago and a lot has changed since then. I have already removed one task – what if I were to remove or adapt a few more to make it more enjoyable?
In previous ‘Bucket List‘ articles, I have mentioned that the list should be flexible and that you are under no pressure to complete it. Why then shouldn’t the same logic I share with others apply to me?
Making a U-Turn
The U-turn is a very underrated and misunderstood manoeuvre. Imagine you are in a car and the way forward is blocked, or perhaps you have realised that you are going in the totally wrong direction.
What do you do? You back up, or turn around, and go in a new direction.
Why then is the ‘u-turn’ often considered a by-word in some circles for ‘flighty’ or inconsistent?
Why is changing your mind about something looked on with such distain?
There is always huge praise for those who are reliable and consistent, but what is the cost of never changing your mind?
The idea that you are making changes based on either new information or a realisation that the road you are travelling down no longer serves your purpose is not a bad thing.
In life, we come to many crossroads and are presented with many choices. We often forget that going back and trying something different should be included within those options.
Change is good for you
There are a number of reasons why change can be good for you; I wrote a whole article on it last year.
When something is not working for you, be it a job, a new hobby, or a relationship, you get no prizes for battling on if your heart is not in it.
Changing your mind based on new information, or even a realisation that the idea probably wasn’t that great in the first place, is healthy.
For example:
One of the tasks on the Kettle list is ‘Run’.
Don’t even start on how unspecific and unmeasurable that one is!
Maybe I added it because I thought I should do more running. It would be good for me. At one point I even toyed with the idea of doing a tough Mudder – but I do not enjoy running. I would not enjoy this task! I would be doing it for the sake of doing it.
Why don’t I just replace it with something I do want to do – and if I can’t think of anything yet?
It is fine to have spaces in your list; it gives you room to add new experiences when they arise.
I have therefore decided it may be time to take a few things out and add a few new things in.
Now, I just need to decide which to keep and which to ditch…