Small Decisions

oh yeah.. how to eat an elephant? - one bite at a time ;-)

love, laughter & lightness.. tara <3

If I may offer my advice… DON'T EAT ELEPHANTS! Instead teach your elephant how to fish, milk your cow and fetch your slippers. Geez…. obvious! But seriously, about David's tidbit… a sincere thought but a little convoluted. Perhaps I need to be persuaded more effectively. I see it like this:
- It's important to try to see the big picture objectively or how your role fits into it
- When presented with a list of problems, tasks or decisions, I generally start with the biggest portions first. For instance, let's say I have limited funds/time and absolutely must complete the following; paint the house (something involving many small decisions), mop the kitchen (a 10 minute job) and buy a car. After doing a minimal outline of what each task requires, in terms of time, effort and money, I will end up painting the house. That way, if I understimated and go over budget or it takes longer than expected, I can still complete it and still be likely to find a way to fit in the other two problems before deadline. David was right about taking the big task and breaking it down into manageable chunks (not of elephant eww). And yes, when looking at the big picture in your initial analysis, it's possible to feel overwhelmed or powerless in the face of it, this is why some people make better leaders than others. Something I admire in others is the ability to make effective and final decisions very quickly and with confidence. I tend to be a slower thinker, but at least I know that and accept that about myself. In fact, I believe my deliberate way of analyzing things has made me a very discerning individual who take lots of time to emphasize what I consider important and while I'm not an expert on various topics, my knowledge is above average where it counts in my own life. And I rambles a bit at times. Gotta run - now I'm late for resolving the world's problems! Feel free to send feedback, tips or throw darts at my pic. Lates David and Tara  :)

Great comments! Too funny!

I appreciate your comment nfinitluv. I completely agree and I think that your input fits within the realm of what I'm saying. To me it's sounds like you're taking it to the next level of detail… which is great! I'm hoping that these short blurbs spark this kind or dialog. My intention though,  is to squeeze as much as i can into 5 lines +/-. Maybe adding another level of detail in another one or in the back and forth of these comments. Fun stuff!

Thanks for starting this off. Btw, I generally start with the most important task on my list first thing every day too. It's a great practice and has been very effective.

Cheers,
David

I am grateful to have the ability to chop wood and carry water. No matter what the task….be grateful and in awe of what you are doing at that moment. Don't worry about the future…all that exists is right now:) It reminds me of some of the antique plates I break for my mosaic tile art….the antique dealers in town have a cardiac arrest and share the value of the plate. My response to their drama…is exactly who is it valuable to? Nothing is that important…do what makes you feel good and then find something else to do:)

wise words.  I find the “whistle while you work” theory i learned as a child works wonderfully when i am faced with what seems to be a monumental task.  When i think of it as necessary I begin to see that it is not the end of the world. 

I agree with living in the moment. Tasks at hand can be difficult to handle at times but the realization that we have no control over anything beyond the moment may help place things in perspective. I tend to pray and ask for guidance but I do have the understanding that my choices at times not only affect myself, but others in life as well. I believe we are all interconnected in some way and it is important to also receive feedback and transform the words of others into personal growth. Yes, decisions can be difficult; whether they are small or large. The best thing to do sometimes is take things in stride, and respond with the highest level of confidence possible. Also, no regrets. Once a decision has been made, why regret? One can only learn from it if it is a poor decision. And sometimes that is what life is about, right? Learning. Along with that, learning and the application of the knowledge obtained the best way to handle situations in the moment.  

Thank you for your feedback David (and you can call me Carlos:). To Sugar, I recently discovered that a guitarist who inspired me in the past has been paralyzed by ALS and you should check out his story at jasonbecker.com. He has inspired more people than ever through his perserverance and spiritual enlightenment. We should always be thankful for what we have, yet have empathy for and do what we can for others with less. Keep breakin' plates. To Spanish Winter (cool name:), one thing struck me about your comment. It clearly reflects something Carlos Castaneda wrote and I've try to live by, “…worry and think before you make any decision, but once you make it, be on your way free from worries or thoughts; there will be a million other decisions still awaiting you.” You also made another great point that we learn from our mistakes. In fact, the very purpose for this crazy thing we call life is to grow spiritually and nothing in it doesn't contribute to that end, in the long run - although we don't see it immediately.

Yes, everyting in small dosages is good. Still, never overlook he power or effect  that these things (decisions) may have later on.

Take for example, I consider myself a type of drug that should only be taken in small dosages. What I mean is, I consider myself to be a decent friend. I love to make my friends smile, specially if they're not feeling to great. However, I don't think doing it too much will be good for them either. You know, give them time to breathe a little. A little bit of me and a little bit of them from time to time will make us appreciate each other more. In the same way, little steps at a time will help us appreciate better our work and decisions.

Thanks to all of you.  My husband just died and I am facing more decisions than I ever knew existed in a universe of elephants.   I shall whistle while I work and breathe and remain in the now while at the same time taking some time to look at the big picture.  The shift from the small inner purpose of mindfulness and the large outer purpose of managing my affairs requires:  patience, humor, resilience, practice, and practice.   When I don't get it right I try to be kind and compassionate towards myself.