I  confess to be a lover of lists. How do people live without them? How do they keep their lives running smoothly? I simply don’t know.

Here are some of my favorite lists:

1. The to-do list. I have one for the week and one for each day and yes, I have been known to write something on mine after I’ve done the job so I can then cross it off. It’s a form of celebrating what I’ve accomplished.

2. The shopping list. If it isn’t written down it doesn’t get bought. (Mostly because I can’t remember it). Not to admit to being OCD but my list is organized listed in order of how the stores appear in town. If someone suggests an addition after the fact, I just say it’s too late. It wasn’t on the list and I don’t backtrack.

3. Honey-do list. It saves nagging, saves excuses such as ‘I didn’t hear’ or ‘I forgot.’ I’ve learned to put no more than 2 or 3 things on a list at any one time.

4. Kid-do list. Same reasons as above. Mind you I don’t do these much any more but it’s interesting to see how many of my kids do lists. Even more interesting is that the ones who said they would never do that to their children are slowly learning it’s not a bad idea.

5. Goal list which is different than to-do list. This one is more expansive and far reaching. I include writing deadlines here.

6. Bucket list. Oh, my bucket list. One thing I was able to cross off was visiting Paris. But now I have ‘visit Paris again.’ (I need to go back and get digital photos!) There are a number of other places I’d like to visit. Another item I was able to cross off this year was renting a cabin at our favorite nearby lake and spending a week there with some of my family.

7. A gratitude list. One year I made it my goal to each day list 5 things I was grateful for. I have so much. Anyone living in our country has so much and  yet I find people grumble and complain. (Yes, I am among those who do). Being deliberate about thinking of what I have helps me avoid this.

8. Harvest list. Every year I keep a list of what comes off my garden—beans, peas and apples in the freezer; carrots, potatoes and turnips in the root cellar; beet pickles in the basement.

9. Exercise list. I confess this one has been less than successful but I am trying to find enjoyable ways to add exercise to my winter life. I don’t need more exercise in the summer—I have the garden and it’s fun to be outside. Winter, not so much.

10. Last but not least, I borrow from The Sound of Music and enjoy listing my favorite things. The colors of autumn would be on this list.

There is one last list. One I don’t like. It’s the one that springs to mind in the wee dark hours of the night. It’s a reminder to me of all the embarrassing, awkward, wrong things I’ve said and done throughout my life. And in this, my memory is infallible. I can remember things from Grade One. What is with that???

Are you a list maker? Or do you find the practice horrifying?