I just received my brand new 2009 Day-Timer monthly planner in the mail. No, I have not upgraded to one of the newer, possibly more efficient, certainly more portable and sophisticated multitasking products for keeping track of appointments and all manner of other relevant information.
I am still enamored of a large, day-to-day appointment book at my desk and a small, pocket version to carry with me. Admittedly, sometimes I neglect to copy all of the appointments in the large desk book into the pocketbook version, but I stubbornly stick to this system even though I appear positively antiquated at business meetings when everyone else is busily entering e-mail addresses into their iPhone or BlackBerry or checking their home computer for messages, or even instantly locating the nearest new Italian restaurant for lunch.
There is something optimistic and challenging about all those virginal white pages in my 2009 book. I glance over the well-used pages of the open 2008 Day-Timer. It has recorded the past year with mundane appointments like "dentist at 2:30," happy reminders, "Dori and Hank to visit this weekend," some minor triumphs, "lost 3 lbs. this month," or "great turnout for the seminar on clutter," along with some setbacks, "Val in hospital again."
The entries come in useful at tax time, but more than that, they trace the day-to-day happenings of a year that has once again, all too swiftly, flown by. The 2009 blue book with its gold-edged pages is quite elegant and deserving of neater entries than I usually manage.
I also promise myself to use the plan-ahead pages more effectively so that I make better use of my time ... ( isn't it rewarding when you can make all those little check marks after what has been accomplished?) Although I have never kept a diary, the daily journal does help to recall past events, locate the name of the plumber who fixed the shower and nudges me to remember the forthcoming birthdays and anniversaries of friends and relatives.
As I write this on the last Sunday before the election, I think about our new president and first lady and wish them courage and wisdom in making the decisions that will fill the pages of our history journals in the years to come.
As to my own journal, although there are two more months before we are officially in 2009, I am already jotting notes and appointments for next year. Some of what the pages will hold is beyond my knowing, but some of what will be written does lie in my own hands.
"The only limit to what you can be
The only limit to what you can do
Are those that you, yourself, set.
Whatever you can do or dream,
You can begin it."
Jean Cherni
is founder of Senior Living Solutions, a retirement advisory
service. Contact her at jeancherni@sbcglobal.net or
15 The Ponds, Branford 06405.
H. Pearce Company REALTORS®
is a full-service real estate company with more than 100
agents and branch offices in greater New Haven and the Shoreline.
Corporate and & Commercial offices are located in North
Haven, where the company was founded in 1958. All listings
can be found in color on the web at: www.hpearce.com. |
