Confessions of a Snuggle Addict
So I have this friend who, when she was broken up with her boyfriend, accomplished so many things. Really remarkable things. Honestly, the stuff dreams are made of. Then she got a new boyfriend, and out the window went all of the stuff dreams are made of and in came lots of cuddling up to movies but very few subsequent accomplishments.
Upon hearing my boyfriend and I reunited, she heeded: "Emma, do not stop writing. I repeat, do not stop writing. Don't let snuggling get in the way of fulfilling your absolute highest human potential!"
Had she given up? Was she placing all of her unfulfilled human potential into my empty vat? How would I ever fulfill all of this potential? How would I ever fulfill it and still snuggle? Although she had a point - even before children, we can become so wrapped up in the affection of another that we quietly neglect our hopes and dreams.
Sometime yesterday I thought about a fitted tweed jacket with black leather lapels. Maybe holiday tweed with a hint of red. When worn with a dressed down ensemble, the jacket dressed it up and when worn dressed up, it dressed an ensemble down. The back had a very thin line of leather separating the two halves and stopping just before the waistline where it kicked out a little bit like a riding jacket. For hours I scoured the internet looking for this jacket just to find that the jacket, apparently, does not exist. Thus, confirming my age-old suspicion that I should have indeed been a fashion designer. Sigh.
How will a self-proclaimed snuggle addict, with heaps of unfulfilled potential and so many regular-person things to do, arrive at the peak of my potential whilst sharing my world with someone else? I wondered. How do I find the time? But I've been to Landmark; I know "time" is not an excuse. There are people with full-time jobs, three children, ballet lessons, mother with early-onset Alzheimer's, sick cat, oil changes and running a company and producing a documentary film and exercising daily, that do it everyday. Sure those people have assistants and such, but even so they accomplish a lot.
How?
Nope, not multitasking. (Most studies say it actually takes us longer to do do things when we do multiple things at a time.) The key is efficient-tasking. See also: maximum prioritization.
I consider myself an efficiency expert; but sometimes in a snuggle-ridden relationship, I become less efficient and less productive. Mainly because I'm addicted to snuggling. It's very hard to snuggle and do other things. (Siri has indeed helped.) Thus, I have decided the only to way to write on my blog weekly, complete my re-writes and edits, practice yoga, run, walk my dog, hang out with friends, work!, maintain a glowing complexion and snuggle is detailed prioritization, and when possible, killing several birds with a single stone. Which is fabulous, because I hate birds.
So last night, I painted my nails while watching a movie with my boyfriend. (Baby steps people, baby steps.) Little did my boyfriend know that my nail-painting was symbolic of ways to come. No more disorganized, lazy Sunday afternoons. No more skipping yoga. My friend recently ran the Marine Corps Marathon and said one of the hardest parts of training was forcing herself to stay in so she could do her longest weekend runs. There are times that I need to stay in, say "no", get my hot ass home early because I am most productive when I am well-rested and have worked out. Those two essentials are incompatible to staying out until all hours the night, however fun that might be. All of the dancefloors in the world will be ready and waiting for me when I have accomplished my goals.
And then, get up early, which can be hard when you have a snuggle addiction. However, like the dancefloor, all of the snugs in the world will still be there when I have accomplished my goals. If I am committed to some serious prioritization, then I wake up. No excuses. No cutesie stuff. Up. Up. Up. Nothing is done by laying around thinking about it. Everything is done by strategic action.
When I look back on my life, am I going to wish I had fulfilled my artistic potential or stayed in bed longer? As tempting as those snugs might be, no one wishes they slept more. Not. One. Person.
Emma Dinzebach
Upon hearing my boyfriend and I reunited, she heeded: "Emma, do not stop writing. I repeat, do not stop writing. Don't let snuggling get in the way of fulfilling your absolute highest human potential!"
Had she given up? Was she placing all of her unfulfilled human potential into my empty vat? How would I ever fulfill all of this potential? How would I ever fulfill it and still snuggle? Although she had a point - even before children, we can become so wrapped up in the affection of another that we quietly neglect our hopes and dreams.
Sometime yesterday I thought about a fitted tweed jacket with black leather lapels. Maybe holiday tweed with a hint of red. When worn with a dressed down ensemble, the jacket dressed it up and when worn dressed up, it dressed an ensemble down. The back had a very thin line of leather separating the two halves and stopping just before the waistline where it kicked out a little bit like a riding jacket. For hours I scoured the internet looking for this jacket just to find that the jacket, apparently, does not exist. Thus, confirming my age-old suspicion that I should have indeed been a fashion designer. Sigh.
How will a self-proclaimed snuggle addict, with heaps of unfulfilled potential and so many regular-person things to do, arrive at the peak of my potential whilst sharing my world with someone else? I wondered. How do I find the time? But I've been to Landmark; I know "time" is not an excuse. There are people with full-time jobs, three children, ballet lessons, mother with early-onset Alzheimer's, sick cat, oil changes and running a company and producing a documentary film and exercising daily, that do it everyday. Sure those people have assistants and such, but even so they accomplish a lot.
How?
Nope, not multitasking. (Most studies say it actually takes us longer to do do things when we do multiple things at a time.) The key is efficient-tasking. See also: maximum prioritization.
I consider myself an efficiency expert; but sometimes in a snuggle-ridden relationship, I become less efficient and less productive. Mainly because I'm addicted to snuggling. It's very hard to snuggle and do other things. (Siri has indeed helped.) Thus, I have decided the only to way to write on my blog weekly, complete my re-writes and edits, practice yoga, run, walk my dog, hang out with friends, work!, maintain a glowing complexion and snuggle is detailed prioritization, and when possible, killing several birds with a single stone. Which is fabulous, because I hate birds.
So last night, I painted my nails while watching a movie with my boyfriend. (Baby steps people, baby steps.) Little did my boyfriend know that my nail-painting was symbolic of ways to come. No more disorganized, lazy Sunday afternoons. No more skipping yoga. My friend recently ran the Marine Corps Marathon and said one of the hardest parts of training was forcing herself to stay in so she could do her longest weekend runs. There are times that I need to stay in, say "no", get my hot ass home early because I am most productive when I am well-rested and have worked out. Those two essentials are incompatible to staying out until all hours the night, however fun that might be. All of the dancefloors in the world will be ready and waiting for me when I have accomplished my goals.
And then, get up early, which can be hard when you have a snuggle addiction. However, like the dancefloor, all of the snugs in the world will still be there when I have accomplished my goals. If I am committed to some serious prioritization, then I wake up. No excuses. No cutesie stuff. Up. Up. Up. Nothing is done by laying around thinking about it. Everything is done by strategic action.
When I look back on my life, am I going to wish I had fulfilled my artistic potential or stayed in bed longer? As tempting as those snugs might be, no one wishes they slept more. Not. One. Person.
Emma Dinzebach
Posted by Emma Dinzebach at 11/15/2011 10:00 AM 
Categories: What I Think Now
Tags: Emma Dinzebach Emma Dilemma snuggle addict efficiency prioritization goal-setting goal achievement
Categories: What I Think Now
Tags: Emma Dinzebach Emma Dilemma snuggle addict efficiency prioritization goal-setting goal achievement
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