The word of the day* for January 23, 2007 is “procrastination” — noun 1 : the act of putting off intentionally and habitually. 2: the act of intentionally putting off the doing of something that should be done.
Rae reminded me the other day of my favorite method of procrastination. When I should be writing or dusting the living room, I find myself cleaning up the kitchen: loading and running the dishwasher. I do get something accomplished, just not what is the most important at the moment.
Lloyd does the same thing, except he drags other people into it. “Where would you like to go today?” he asks. I tell him I have to get milk and salad greens from the grocery. The next thing I know is we’re off to the zoo in Hutchinson. Usually, we buy gas at Dillons on the way home, so I get to remind him to drop me off at the grocery while he fills the tank. Sometimes procrastination has beneficial side effects.
Today we have dueling quotes† from Lord Chesterfield (1694 - 1773):
Know the true value of time; snatch, seize, and enjoy every moment of it. No idleness; no laziness; no procrastination; never put off till tomorrow what you can do today.
And from Aaron Burr (1756 - 1836):
Never do today what you can put off till tomorrow. Delay may give clearer light as to what is best to be done.
;^) Jan
* The definition is from either Merriam-Webster Online, 10th Edition or The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition and is used by permission.
† The quote is from either Bartleby: Great Books on Line or The Quotation Pages and is used by permission.
P.S.: Comments and word requests are welcome.
1 comment:
From Lonna:
My husband is of the Aaron Burr school of thought. One of his favorite t-shirts says “Just Do It – Tomorrow”
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