About couple of months ago I went with Tom to attend a talk given by Atul Gawande at the Cleveland Clinic. He talked briefly about a movement he started and a book he wrote called “The Checklist Manifesto: How to Get Things Right.” He suggests and supports with research the idea that the medical profession should take up the use of checklists. He claims that a significant percentage of lives could be saved if surgeons simply followed a checklist.

This evening as I sat down to review my day’s checklist I was once again amazed at its power. I was incredibly productive today. The sheer power of that lists of tasks led me to head outside after dinner to clean up the yard, to use every free minute I had to pick up here, and clean  up there (well, that and the fact that I have 30+ people coming over tomorrow. . . hmmm. Maybe I need to have parties more often). Some days I never get around to compiling my list- and thus the day passes in an unorganized haze. Different days call for different kinds of lists. Some days I know that I must limit myself to three things. Some days I have twenty things. Other days I create my list as I go along, writing down things after I’ve accomplished them so at the end of the day I can rest with the realization that I did something.

The greatest challenge is the formation of the list. What do you add, what do you leave off? Prioritization is one of the greatest challenges of life. I currently have this quote framed in my room: “Desires dictates our priorities, priorities shape our choices and choices determine our actions.” -Dallin H Oaks. It comes from this terrific talk. Too often I choose without first consulting my desires and my priorities. It’s amazing how simple life is when broken down into desires. I suppose I should frame my desires for me to see everyday.

A few days ago I read another talk in which Elaine S. Dalton suggested we write a list of things we will always do, and things we will never do. The thought struck me. I am powerfully influenced by lists. Once I have committed something to writing, I feel an overwhelming obligation to complete it.  Always and Never are powerful words. The idea of making such strong commitments made me nervous, but I was determined. The first thought came: I will always pray and read my scriptures.Then, I will never yell at my husband. The mere mental commitment was astounding. I have yet to finish this exercise- so I’m off to write further in my journal.