Comments for sursumcorda.salemsattic.com/post/95-by-65-86-rocket-boost-genealogy

Comment #3803

2015-02-08T13:37:57Z

On a different note, Janet has a point about my genealogy struggles: In the beginning, I was making great progress, learning new things, and didn't want to stop, while at the end—since I no longer had the need to grab as much new data as I could before my subscription expired—I was tackling the boring, tedious stuff, so of course the hours dragged.

Comment #3802

2015-02-08T13:34:18Z

Like mother, like daughter. I could have written what you did, Heather. With some twists. I was born an Upholder, I'm sure—first born, and had a hard time learning that sometimes it's important to be flexible with rules. I'm naturally much more inclined to make the best of whatever the situation is than to try to change it. However, life—particularly our struggles with the school system—taught me to be a Questioner. But although the impetus and research into homeschooling was 100% mine, and the implementation 97%, I doubt it would have happened without the push from Dad, which was needed to overcome the authority of rule and custom.

Oddly enough, it wasn't until I read Rubin's categories that I realized I'm more of an Obliger than an Upholder. Actually, that's not quite true, because I very much do like to "adopt self-imposed rules." But as you said, I all too easily let these rules be overthrown by circumstances and by other people. So—I'm an Upholder who sets the authority of just about anyone and anything above my own? That's sad.

Comment #3801

2015-02-08T12:21:27Z

Wow, I thought I was an upholder until I saw the last one. I am SO an obliger! Even if I make a "rule" for mtself, it is easily overthrown, especially by a "rule" from someone else.

Comment #3800

2015-02-07T14:16:29Z

Interesting bit about Rubin's categories. I can see myself as an upholder in certain areas - I am a first born, after all, and don't like to get in trouble. I am more likely to follow the rules (like laws) if I might get in trouble if I don't.

Comment #3799

2015-02-07T12:34:11Z

I identify with both the joys and struggles, and very much know how making something official can take the joy out of it. Part of that has to do with the fact that anything worth doing has a part to it that isn't really much fun and it just has to be done to get to the prize. If we HAVE to finish, it feels more like a weight because we don't have the option of quitting (or taking a long pause . . .) when it's no longer fun. Learning how to get past those places is a key to doing anything large or long-term. That's why I like scheduling work, because it helps me keep going when the going gets boring. Of course, if I overschedule, other factors set in, like rebellion.

Comment #3798

2015-02-07T12:28:46Z

dstb, your comment reminds me of Gretchen Rubin's personality type "rebel" as you resist outside and inside demands. http://www.gretchenrubin.com/happiness_project/2013/01/four-personality-types-which-one-are-you/

I'm firmly a questioner - I find her categories interesting.

Comment #3797

2015-02-02T15:52:59Z

I know you have mentioned it somewhere before (maybe a David Allen thing?) where it is nice to be able to move from one project to another depending on what is interesting you. By doing that you make the most of your time because you WANT to do whatever it is you are working on. That is definitely me.

I do tend to procrastinate on things that have a deadline even if it is self-imposed. It's a little of the "no one can tell me what to do" push back. Even if it is me who is saying it needs t be done!

Comment #3796

2015-02-02T14:40:18Z

Really, I'm with you Sarah. In the past I have easily done exactly what you describe. I love being able to concentrate on one thing (be it genealogy or some other project) for extended periods. And at first I really loved those intense hours of guilt-free genealogy. I'm not sure what went wrong, except that I also like to "jump ship" to another project as a break when I start spinning my wheels on the first one (that's a Don Aslett thing), and trying to fit in a dedicated 20 hours/week wasn't allowing that. Most of all, I think, it was the time pressure of other deadlines that sucked the joy out of the project. At first those genealogy hours were lovely, but later the ever-present reminder of the approach of some unchangeable and more important deadlines became too intrusive. It was hard, for example, to stick with the tedious work of entering data that has been sitting around for five years, knowing that the baby quilt I need to make has a very real due date approaching.

Comment #3795

2015-02-02T13:45:58Z

I don't know. I think this might be where we part ways. I can sit down to work on genealogy and look up and several hours have gone by. I ignore other things I should be doing (which could include making dinner. "Tonight, everyone fends for themselves!")

Perhaps if I put a set goal in front of myself it would suck the fun out of it, but I don't know. I have to get back to it at some point here, but I guess I should get some other stuff in order before I disappear into that black hole.

Sarah