I’m not going to lie. When I took the year off, I had a lot of vague notions about how the year would go. Clearly, twenty minutes after I quit, I would be offered my own television series, movie franchise or multi-book publishing deal. A month later, I was supposed to be voted most powerful producer in all the land. I still wouldn’t be able to afford a house in Los Angeles, but I’d be getting close to it. A month after that, my husband (George Clooney) and I would start our new studio. I was willing to allow for some deviations in the length of time this would take, and the exact details of my success (perhaps I was voted “most powerful producer in my apartment”). However there was one thing I was absolutely certain of: I would have nothing on my “to do” list.

That assertion was completely false.

What I have found is that the “to do” list is a lot like a purse. The bigger the purse, the more crap you carry around. Seriously, I carry a hard drive around right now. No good reason for that other than the fact that it went in there once, and there is room for it. Likewise, the more time you have the more tasks occupy that time. I thought I would be bored. I was wildly incorrect. I’m as busy now as I was before I quit, I’m just focused on different things. Sadly, those things don’t pay me right now, but that’s a different issue for another day.

In reality, the “to do” list just grows—and not just in volume, but in complexity. For instance, in addition to “get groceries” I now have “write great American novel” along with the slightly more reachable goal of “post blog.” I think the theory is that now that I have all of this time, I should be able to reach loftier goals. The list now resembles a combined daily tasks, New Year’s resolutions and grab bag of fate manifesto. I can’t decide if having “get oil change” and “find meaning of life” should be on the same list (bonus points to all of you who just yelled out “42”), but the moment they share space. Unfortunately, rather than rolling up my sleeves and really trying to get some of these tasks off my list (Chapter 1 would be nice), I’m gripped by inertia. I’ve fallen back into the same old pattern: if I have every option in the world, I choose nothing. If I have a million things I could be/should be doing, I only do the things I absolutely must do to survive (and even then grocery shopping will be a last resort).

I’m curious if any of you have ever faced a similar motivation problem. How did you kick start your progress? I’ve made the big gesture: I quit my job. I took charge: “I am woman, hear me roar.” Except with me, it really has been more like a whisper.

Kate (watching House Hunters)

P.S. Fallacy #2: “If I didn’t have a job, I’d be really fit because I’d work out every day.” LMAO such a kidder.