Taking a photo of bunchberries gladly makes my Have Done list.  (Provided photo — Diane Chase)

We live in an old house, own old cars, work numerous jobs and are responsible for younger and older people. It’s a cauldron of tasks where the most eminent duties take precedent. It’s common sense. We complete tasks and start new ones. We try to layer the maintenance and house projects added to the “To Do” list. Like I tell my children, “It’s a To Do list, not a Have Done list.”

I think I’ve been looking at the list the wrong way. I wonder if what I need to keep track of are all the things I finish. Wouldn’t it be such a powerful feeling if we all took the time to consider the things we accomplish throughout a day rather than focus on what we don’t complete? Perhaps the rest of the world already does this, but to me, this is my Grinch growing a heart moment.

I’m grateful for all I have. Please don’t get all New Age on me. It isn’t that. I don’t think about the completed work, just what still needs doing. Once the task is done, I move on. I keep crossing items off my list. It isn’t an imaginary inventory either. It’s an ongoing notebook of unfinished goals.

I approach my husband about having a family dinner moment where we talk about what tasks we’ve completed. His look of horror sums up his feelings. He points out that it sounds too much like rollcall. He thinks the tradition of finding something to be grateful for is productive so let’s stick to what works. Fine. (My Grinch heart ratchets down a notch.)

He is correct. I don’t need to stand on ceremony to observe a “Have Done” checklist. I can take note of various achievements and pat myself on the back. I also know my family well enough to see this becoming another competition where we’d have to up the number of completed tasks to “win.”

I have no wish to complete all my desires. I will always be adding to the file. Additionally, I can have an end-of-day moment understanding I’m making headway. (My Grinch heart expands.) I’m just unsure where having an epiphany lands on the Have Done list. Perhaps somewhere between laundry and walking the dog?