Things have been rather busy of late. So busy in fact that I’ve had problems keeping my head above the water line, which living here in the south as I do is tragically more than just a metaphoric play on words.
Amidst all of my various activities, I am reminded of someone I once knew at my work many years ago who had a bit of a reputation for turning a blind eye to job requirements. I still recall her telling me one late December morning how absolutely thrilled she was to be away from the distractions of home, so that she could instead focus on organizing all of her family’s holiday events right there at her work desk. How fortunate for her! Clearly she and I had dissimilar priorities; I was most likely fretting about getting my end-of-year spending report done and dusted. Sucker.
I’m now ten + years retired and no longer required to compile spending reports. I also have no threat of being disciplined or fired, nor am I ever called on the carpet, much anyway, for failing to fulfill duties as assigned. When it comes to the obligations I do have, up until most recently anyway, I was unwittingly following a well-established model designed by the 34th President of the U.S., Dwight D. Eisenhower. Ike, it turns out, was a bit of an expert in establishing firm boundaries with his time.
It wasn’t until I read John Dickerson’s fine book about the presidency, The Hardest Job in the World: The American Presidency (2020, Random House), that I learned about Eisenhower’s personal system to regulate the daily inflow of external noise. Known now as the Eisenhower Matrix, its purpose is to prioritize one’s tasks and place them into “quadrants” relative to their immediacy and importance. The chart at the top of this post illustrates how one can mentally assign an interruption that suddenly materializes.
In the matrix’s most elemental construct, my rumbling belly would be placed into the first quadrant for matters of urgent priority. The campaign solicitation email from some candidate in a state I’ve never even visited, the six such one I’ve received so far today ? That requires no intensive review because it goes directly to the fourth quadrant for immediate deletion.
For years I’ve been able to maintain relative dominance over outside forces seeking to interfere with my time and attention. Telemarketers, HOA associations, siblings, etc., all compete in some measure to draw me away and keep me off balance. Nevertheless we persevere out of self-preservation or stubborn pride. We know instinctively that allowing the door to open to such forces only emboldens them with further demands.
Of particular pride since retiring has been my delight in being able to read books with abandon. During my working years, I always felt constrained by a book’s size; I knew plainly that the longer one was, the more difficult it would be for me to actually finish it. Lately, however, I’m sad to report that reading for pleasure has moved into quadrant two, with my having to carve out a specific time to make it happen.
So what happened? Well, in clinical terms I lost my ability to maintain my cognitive processing.
In less scientific language: in one very weak moment, I lowered my guard and said “yes” to something that for me is roughly akin to tackling that infamous 72 oz steak challenge at the Texas roadhouse in Amarillo. Easy peasy, no problem. When the president of our synagogue asked me to take on duties for the upkeep of our building last year, I agreed to it in a spirit of hail fellow well met. What I didn’t realize is that for me it would become”fellow meets hail.”
Since this past May after I assumed the duties, I have been faced with a waterlogged property due to massive Florida storms, repairing a smashed gate, soliciting and selecting bids for new mulch, hiring a tree trimmer to remove a humongous dead oak tree, and finding a commercial weed spraying service to remove persistent weed growth in the parking lot. At a recent evening service, Gorgeous complained to me that an ant crawled on her. I’m presently calling the pest spraying service to find out when their next scheduled visit will be. I had been warned by the previous facilities person that congregants will constantly be lobbying me to address something; I just didn’t think it was going to be the woman I sleep with.
Seemingly every day there are texts, emails, or phone calls over matters from the mundane to the important . Where I once had only one folder on my computer for a small congregational directory, I now have folders and sub-folders for invoices of the heating and air conditioning, landscaping, and pest control services. There are draft notes to be kept for a monthly report to be submitted for board meetings.
I knew I was in too deep when I looked at my calendar recently and noticed that I missed an annual record convention that I’ve faithfully attended for the last several years. There it was safely pinned in my second quadrant only to have been supplanted by a pressing need that probably surfaced through an urgent text message.. It had been my hope this year to enjoy the hunt for an import vinyl release of John Paul Jones’ “Zooma” album. Perhaps next year. I’m also making terrible progress with an excellent biography of Frank Sinatra (James Kaplan, Frank: The Voice, 2010 Doubleday). It’s 700 wonderful pages, but I’ve been stuck in the 200’s for what feels like weeks now.
As I type this, there is yet another major hurricane barreling in on those poor souls to south of us near Tampa. It will be the second time in a month that they’ve had their lives affected by a major storm. Our particular area — the northeast part of the state — is well within the so-called storm cone. So wind and rain will be aplenty for us, as will at least some damage to structures from falling trees due to an already saturated ground. The day after the storm, I expect to be checking both inside the building and out for damage, as will thousands of others doing the same thing at their homes. Pick a quadrant, any quadrant.
Wherever you live, I trust and hope you, your home, and also your calendars are safe from calamities and distractions, be it man-made or meteorological.
Until next time…
Snakes in the Grass 
Oh my! That sounds like a full-time job that should be paid. Getting sucked into big projects takes vigilance. They start out small and easy. Then they grow just like the blob in that movie! Hope the hurricane doesn’t drop too much rain on you!
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From what I’m gathering it comes in waves with plenty of quiet moments too. Haven’t seen a quiet moment yet, but I’m going to be looking for it!
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Ah the quiet moments. That’s just to sucker you in!
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Marty, bless you for taking on this mission for your synagogue. I do think it’s important to have a purpose in retirement and to give back, and this mission sounds like it checks those boxes – and then some! But it is all about balance, so I hope you are within the window – or will be. With all our volunteering, I feel like my writing is a bit different as well – less reflective and more just of a reporting nature, but I hope in time and with time, I’ll return. Reading is a joy in life, and I hope you can find a way to read a bit more. I enjoyed reading this blog post as you are a talented writer as well. Take care, and know you and all those in the path of danger are in my thoughts and prayers.
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Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments, Betty. Yeah, it’s all a balancing act for sure. I’ve always been one who avoids taking on extracurriculars, as it were, so this is all a big step outside my comfort zone. But our congregation is also tiny and it takes a village for all the things to get accomplished. So in the end it is about being in a community. My books await me for sure! I look forward to getting back to reading about your LBJ experiences soon. Thanks!
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I was chatting with my friend who lives on the other coast and, fortunately, other than a bit of debris and a power outage for a few days from Helene, I was relieved to hear that they are well. I take my hat off to you brave (or is it rash?) Floridians for being able to live with this. My friend and her husband have decided to move to the Georgia mountains, not *entirely* because of the storms, but it did play a significant part.
My sympathies to you for your new duties. It sounds very much like my day job which *should* be able to stay small and manageable…. but doesn’t, and has trashed 2 separate weeks off already this year. Nevertheless, Gorgeous and the ant is a great story 😉
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With climate change (G-d forbid we actually say “global warming”), it’s getting harder and harder to actually be anywhere that doesn’t have some kind of issue related to the warming atmosphere. I have family out on the west coast in California, and earlier this year my niece and her family were dangerously close to the seemingly omnipresent wildfires there. Some places admittedly are safer than others though. I hope your friends feel secure in their mountain area.
Ah, yes, volunteer duties can suck the life out of you, eh? Fortunately the rewards, which I never really got to, are aplenty through friendships, fellowship, and camaraderie. And, yes, Gorgeous was taking full advantage of me! 😉
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Ah, the life of the volunteer. I applaud you for doing it, and I sincerely hope they appreciate the complexity of the job and your dedication. Now, I hope you carve out a few minutes each day to put your phone on silent, grab a beverage and snack of choice to spend with Ol’ Blue Eyes. Remember the old days when if you didn’t answer the home phone, they couldn’t find you. 🙂 Stay safe in the storm.
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I do remember those days and sometimes I actually miss them! Sometimes. 😉. What I neglected to mention, because it’s much more fun to act like all of this is SOOOO overbearing, is that there’s a great amount of support amongst those in leadership positions. So I do have help. It takes a village and all that. But nevertheless, I do wish to focusing on my books again. Thanks, Judy! I’ll be by to check out your doings soon.
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I really appreciate those who volunteer, especially when it’s for a (unpaid) job with a lot of responsibility. I’m not one of those people, so thank goodness for those who are!
I’m glad you gave us an update on the latest storm and your relative proximity (good to know that you aren’t close) to its expected path. I spent several days worried about another blogger in western North Carolina and was relieved to find out that she was safe.
Take advantage of the expected rain and hunker down with your book. You can also pretend that you have lost internet and cell service for a bit.
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Ha ha, what a great idea, Janis. Yeah, the latest forecast track update gives us some additional slight comfort. This morning I noticed north lanes of I-95 pretty full; a good indication that it was mostly Gulf residents doing their evacuations.
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Good luck with your volunteer job. It involves a whole, whole lot of work!
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You’re telling me, Neil!
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Hi, Marty – Like other commenters, I admire your volunteer work, especially work of such detail. I am not currently volunteering and keep thinking that I should, but my days are so full (honestly, don’t ask me with but they always seem busy) that I think I will wait a while longer for this. I am relieved to read that you and Gorgeous are safe from the current storm.
I am now going back to Anna Karenina. One of the ladies who is currently filling my calendar! 😀
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It was a weak moment on my part, Donna, I can assure you. The goodwill from doing positive things is nice, but honestly the work just never ends. Still…. it does take a village.
Ah, Tolstoy. You always amaze me with the wonderful books you read. Enjoy!
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Beware the 72 oz steak challenge!!!!
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Even in my most robust of days, I could never! 😆
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Hi Marty, I have thought about you and Gorgeous and the scary weather. Interesting information about this matrix. A good word “balance.” I have been a fan of the Franklin planning system for the past 35+ years. Works for me…most of the time.🧐 Ah, yes…volunteering…often consuming and a full time ‘job.’ Take care with the scary hurricane! (Genesis mouse pad made me smile.)
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Oh, you brought back a memory for me with the Franklin Planner, Erica. An old friend of mine was a huge proponent of it, and once gave me one for my birthday. I *did* use it, but she got frustrated with me when I didn’t go out and buy one for myself the following year. “I’m not buying another one for you! 😆 Thanks for the good cheer about the impending storm. Yes, my beloved Abacab mouse pad!
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I remember learning about the Eisenhower Matrix in school. While the theory behind it seemed sound, the application of it made my head spin. There was too much room for me to create nuanced definitions that resulted in a confused mess. I also did the same overthinking with the Franklin Planner theoretical framework. Eventually I dropped all the rules and just use it to write appointments in, like it’s just a calendar!
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You’re definitely ahead of me, Ally. I never heard of it until I read this book on the presidency in 2020. I think I’ve sort of mentally followed that kind of idea anyway, though for me it’s also a lazy way of not really focusing on anything too closely and probably just mentally putting it in the fourth quadrant for deletion. The problem with fancy organizers, as you point out, is at the end of the day they are indeed just calendars. 😉
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Marty, You volunteer AND you blog??? Outstanding! I’ve been “over committing myself” in the volunteer sphere for quite a while now. I am also too responsive. I need an exit strategy. Seriously, good for you and your synagogue. Just remember to carve some time out for yourself.
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Well, the blogging output has certainly taken a hit. Weeks and weeks go by before I can return to it. Now, is that because of how busy I am or is it writer’s block? 😉 My term runs until next May. I’m sure they’ll try to keep me in it, but at the moment I’m not sure. It’s nice to help but it’s also draining. Thanks, Tracey!
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