SONGS AND SCRIPTS AND DUNKING BISCUITS

We all have aspects of ourselves that irritate, habits that we can’t break or approaches to things that annoy. And I’m not talking about irritating or annoying other people, but our own self. And yet these continue on, week after week, year on year.

These may not necessarily be huge character flaws like kicking cats or spying on our neighbours with high-powered binoculars (normal binoculars work fine), but more the everyday rituals that drive us near-mad.

So here are my top 6. Maybe you have more. Or maybe you are perfect, in which case you can scoff at my list in that superior, haughty fashion that surely must annoy you?

THE PAPER MOUNTAINS

So, this maybe something I receive in the post, or a magazine article I simply have to read sometime, or some paperwork that needs attending to but not straight away. These form a very small pile that I intend to get to, very soon. And so it carries on over days, but usually weeks, and forms into a larger pile.

Then I’ll sift through and create an updated pile minus the things that should never have been kept in the first place. By then there are new things to bring the new pile up again. And so it goes on. 

I’m sure there’s some deep-rooted psychological reason for this, but more likely I just need to be more ruthless (less lazy). Or maybe I just love chasing the high from sorting out a pile of paper.

THE TYPING HABIT OF UNNECESSARY CHANGE

I’m not a quick typist. I’m not even a typist. I just pick my way through the keyboard if not in the one-finger style, then three or four at most.

But my fingers won’t have it, my fingers think they belong to a 120-word-a-minute touch typist. And they have the maddening annoying habit of changing from lower case to upper case in the miDDle of A WORd. Yes, just liKE that! So I look up from my keyboard and all I see is a jumbled mess of lower case and upper case. It drives me insane, yet I do it continually.

All I have to do…is slow down. Now that wasn’t so hard, was it? Of cOUrse nOt.

WANT TO GO. DON’T WANT TO GO. WANT TO GO..BUT NOT REALLY

In late 2005 I saw that U2 were doing three dates in their home town Dublin in the following year, and that there were package deals for accommodation and tickets for the shows. Having recently rediscovered my enthusiasm for the band with the release of their album ‘How To Dismantle an Atom Bomb’ I excitedly booked a hotel and ticket, and subsequent flights. I could hardly wait.

But then, as the seven or eight months to the gigs rumbled on, the less I wanted to go. And for no good reason. Any excuse I could find crept in to my thinking, till the whole trip became a dark cloud that hovered constantly over my head. In the end, I reluctantly went. And of course, it was great, loved the experience.

And yet this continues on, in fact I wrote about it in my last blog Hello Yellow Brick Road, Goodbye Fear and Panic. I’ll see something I want to get involved with, and sign up for it, and generally I am an enthusiastic person. Then on the day, it becomes a chore, something I’d be happy to find a reason not to go to, would love instead to just go home and relax.

And I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s the whole stepping out of my comfort-zone thing but I’m good at that so it continues to be something I struggle to get my head around.

The good news is that nearly every time, I go through with it, and nearly always am glad that I did. But why I have to put myself through this torment, I can only guess at.

All I know is it that it can ruin the anticipation, and that truly is annoying.

THE DRIFTING PHENOMENON

This is when I start doing one thing, but think I should be doing something else. If I start writing, I think I should be tidying the house. If I’m tidying the house, I should be working on my finances. But I can’t do that, because the garden is starting to get overgrown, and garden’s don’t wait for anyone.

Simply put, if I’m doing one thing, I always think I should be doing something else. And so I drift into that ‘something else’ and the result is that often I don’t do any one thing as thoroughly as I should.

Another example – as I’m writing this blog, I think I really should be working on a script. And I’m probably right.

THE SOCIAL MEDIA DISTRACTION

I’m not a regular participant in social media and find most posts uninspiring or derivative. I mean, how many posts of pints of lagers do I need to see? I know what they look like! But when I’m struggling to write or come up with an idea I find myself clicking on Facebook and looking at friends beaming at yet another restaurant meal I can’t taste or watching someone’s nephew I don’t even know receive their swimming certificate.

Lately I’ve been unplugging the Wi-Fi. If I can’t keep to that I’ll start wearing a blindfold. You never know, that may just improve my writing.

THAT’S PERFECT. SO WHY NOT ADD A LITTLE MORE AND MESS IT UP?

So, I’ve made a drink, usually tea. I’ve added the perfect amount of milk. No more to do. But, lets add a few drops more. Now it’s slightly less than perfect. Now what?

Making porridge? Got the consistency just right? Good, so lets add a little more water. Woops, now it’s too much. Now I need to add a few more oats to firm up the consistency again. Would a little more milk help? Aaarggh!!

Ran a bath. The heat is just right. Well, maybe add a little more cold. But is it now a little too cool? Add a little more hot. Ten minutes later it’s no longer a bath, it’s a small swimming pool.

And so it goes on. And on. I simply have to add a few drops more. It’s infuriating. But I can’t stop myself. Somebody break my arm!

Do you have a habit you hate but just can’t break? Does it blight your life? Or do you just feel it makes you quirky and interesting?

Yes- quirky and interesting, I can go with that!