Committee of One
I have an exciting announcement! This year I will be publishing two children’s books--The Parasaurolophus Pizza Parlor and The Christmas Mummy. You can read about them at my new website: LynnWardBooks.com.
I addition, in a few weeks I’m going to stop posting my blog at WordPress. Instead, it will be on my website, on my Facebook page: Facebook.com/oma.spillsbeans, and Twitter: @OmaSpills.
GOOD NEWS! You don’t have to do anything! I’ll be sending my blog to you from my new website address: Lynn@LynnWardBooks.com.
There is one area of stress that I have totally eliminated from my life--committee meetings. I’m not sure I ever would have reached the ripe old age of whatever-I-am if I hadn’t.
I was mostly involved in Girl Scouts, PTA, and church. There were two types of people who did their best to bog down every discussion.
I’m sure you’ve all run into the first type. They have a strongly held opinion about everything and can’t let it go. No matter what points other people make, they jump in to refute any possible worth of the opposing opinions. And they explain, yet again, why their way is best, in case anyone missed it the first thirty-four times.
The second type is a close cousin to the first. This person has a specific project that is near and dear to their heart. It is the sole focus of their attention. So, no matter what topic is under discussion, they drag it back to their pet project.
The backstop in the playground is rusted. Someone who has experience in this has volunteered to take care of it. But he’s busy and hasn’t done it yet, which means it has to be reviewed. Constantly.
The kitchen stove is malfunctioning. Should we have it repaired again, or get a new one? I think we should take care of the backstop before moving on to another project.
We need to start planning a summer program for the children. Well, they’re not going to be able to play safely if the backstop is still rusty.
On and on they ride their hobby horse.
I might have chalked this up to small town doings, if I hadn’t had a discussion with a man who chairs several international committees. As I spoke, he started nodding his head and saying, “Yes. Yes! That’s what happens!” I guess people are people everywhere.
I found it increasingly difficult to manage my frustration and stop myself from saying something they would regret. So I refused all requests to join a committee. Gracefully, I hope.
Frankly, I have enough trouble discussing things with myself. I have the useful but annoying ability to see both sides of a question, situation, or option. In fact, when I was in Middle School, I heard a joke.
“Do you have trouble making decisions?”
“Well, yes and no.”
Even then, I knew the joke was on me.