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Not Another Day
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Not Another Day |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States 
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Not Another Day By Larry Chadwick Larry Wayne Jr. 10-2-1974 Some where in a hall of fame lies a statue that will some day stand in honor of all procrastinators. But until then we live anonymously in a world of excuses and rationalizations refusing to face or acknowledge the price of our behavior. Instead we take consolation in the half hearted humor expressed by so many at our expense. Though we practice the principal of putting off today what can be done tomorrow seldom do we weigh the practicality of which should really be done today. Even more sadly is the time we have squandered that will never be recovered. Until one day when we pause because of an epiphany at the cost of someone else’s pain. Putting off the day when we will read that book or try that recipe is of little consequence to anyone but ourselves. Putting off when we pat a bill or schedule a doctor’s appointment more typically has direct impact on ourselves. But failing to send that greeting card or place that phone call to someone who is important to us starts to impose a penalty on others that we seldom consider. It is amazing the tolerance of our friends and family to endure our procrastination. Though if we were not steeped in denial I suppose we hear the nuances of their feelings. Instead we choose to blunder on blindly as if we are entitled to our behavior. A behavior that likely has a more selfish tone than we will ever admit. After all we rely on the concept of good intentions. For good intentions are something we have in abundance. I have purchased well over a two hundred dollars of cards for specific people that are now categorized neatly in a small drop lid desk. Unfortunately several will never be given to anyone from me. I no longer have a grandma to whom I can send those cards. Nor will my dad or daughter ever see the cards I never sent. Now I pay the price for that in regrets. And while I came to terms with the truth quite some time ago it had little impact on my current habits. How tragic to have learned but not changed. Until the other day. It would not be difficult to reconstruct the conversation that changed everything, though it would be quite time consuming. But for the record I would like you to know that it was with my son. In an extended phone conversation he confided in me his lack of contact with his mother and the reason that I seldom hear from him except when I call. In retrospect I realized that if I chose to remain in the stupor of a procrastinator’s denial I would have missed the message behind his statement. It seems he has lost his motivation to be involved with his family as he has bought a home and needs to focus on building his own life. When we both hung up our cell phones I was left with an incredibly empty feeling that I suspect he felt too. Refusing to settle for the empty feeling in my chest, that seemed to almost be associated with pain, I ventured an introspective journey. Unintended pain is still pain. It turns out that procrastination is to feelings what sarcasm is to humor. Hurtful. Denying any ill will makes it no less painful. I concede it is a form of neglect disguised as good intentions. And so I wonder if shame is an adequate motivation. Experience suggests it is not. Instead I am forced to assess more intimately the impact of my lack of actions on the heart of my own son. It is there that I realize the ultimate motivation. Love. Though I expect procrastination is too imbedded in my habits I am determined that it be rooted out of my relationships. Those we love deserve nothing less. Perhaps I should ship a bulk package of Hallmark greeting cards from my drop lid desk as an acknowledgement of my past. After all I am pretty good at buying cards. Now I have to get good at buying stamps. February 26, 2006 If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, I'd walk right up to heaven and bring you home again. |
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| © Copyright 2006 Larry Chadwick - All Rights Reserved | |||
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Soleil Noir Senior Member
since 2001-12-19
Posts 688USA |
I'll send money, for the stamps. After all, he might have a grandmother...and such. And someday, he might have a daughter, and son, as well. We are never too old to learn, m'friend... and we are never too old, to change our ways. Go on, walk, and procrastinate no more. So sayeth Soleil, to the man who has learned that not every day, is not [just] another day.  |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Soleil, Ah how you made me smile. And thank you for your thoughtful reply, especially for the motivational speech that is never inappropriate when offered to a proctrastinator.  If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, |
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Skyfire
since 2000-12-27
Posts 3381Riding |
so you're going to send my your addy so I can send you that letter, right? (I WILL, I PROMISE no seriously, I'll go to the post office tomorrow and buy a stamp)and then He created the horse... |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
Rhonda, I do get it ya' know. And for the record only procrastinators are allowed to taunt other procrastinators, right? If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, |
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fractal007 Senior Member
since 2000-06-01
Posts 1958 |
Recurring through this somewhat dry piece is the use of hallmark cards. I think this creates an irony for me, as I regard the writing on such cards to be inauthentic and quite damaging to the emotions of the addressee. I'll tell you why: A greeting card typically has written on it some sentimental poem or sound byte that was intended for the broadest audience possible. The person receiving the card would not likely read that poem and attribute its creation to the sender. Instead, the receiver would (and probably unconsciously) consider the text to be yet another example of the crass inauthenticity rampant in our society. However, as the old saying goes, it's the thought that counts. I feel for the speaker of this story. It seems no one has time for anything anymore. Everything must be thrown to the wayside so that emptiness may be embraced wholeheartedly. Any idiot can see that the result is true. |
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Clang Member
since 2005-12-15
Posts 222 |
Good write for those of us who put things off. I do that a lot. [This message has been edited by Clang (05-08-2006 01:11 AM).] |
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Larry C
since 2001-09-10
Posts 10286United States |
fractal007, I would be the speaker of the story as it is personal. It was written with specific personal history in mind to an individual i.e. my son. It is okay you find it dry and being a writer I do struggle with some greeting cards but fail to accept your cynical perpspective of Hallmark or the world. Thanks for reading and responding. Larry C Clang, Thanks. I know the feeling.  If tears could build a stairway and memories a lane, |
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