For as long as I remember, I have had a fluid relationship with time and dates. As a child, I would constantly get in trouble for not being home on time.Most of the time (see what I did there?), I wasn't late on purpose, but, to be fair, sometimes I was late on purpose and I only moved my watch hand back that one time only, mom.
With dates as well, I am less than reliable. Your birthday coming up? Don't worry, I will be unprepared.Even if it's for my own family, I am consistently surprised that their birthdays are here.You can find me shopping for birthday presents, if I'm lucky, the day before the event. When I'm not lucky, you will find me shopping the day of the festivities. I have been given perpetual birthday calendars, wall calendars, I've loaded people's birthdays into my outlook calendar, into my phone and have attempted to use mnemonic devices to assist me with remembering.
In my final semesters at university, I had an elaborate student planner system that had me filling in dates and deadlines and, upon discovering that I had eight papers and projects due on the same day, I physically blocked out time to research, draft and write out my essays in plenty of time to avoid missing deadlines.And because I am a nerd, I always got my booklist early and I had all of my novels and readings finished within the first weeks of school.Time management for school is easy. Somehow, I have not made the transition to be able to function in an organized fashion as an adult.
I have read a number of time management books and articles telling me a variation on the following: use a paper planner, use a digital planner, use a calendar, say "no" more often, be well-rested, et cetera. I have largely thrown up my hands (and my partially filled calendars and planners) to say I quit. I have quit pretending to be something that I'm not.
Although it pains me to admit it, I am an unorganized person and I will be the person who is always late.If I am early, you can guarantee it is because I have the time wrong. In fact, one time I showed up to a surprise wedding shower more than two hours early because when people tell me times and dates of events, this is what I hear: "Okay, the shower is going to be on Saturday at number: number number. Don't be late." All I heard was, "don't be late" thus, I showed up two hours early.
Sometimes a person is in a group of other people and a math question is raised.Usually it is a variation on splitting the bill or calculating a tip or some such thing.People will call out the simple math questions (number number plus number divided by 5 people minus number) and there is no paper or pens (or phones with calculators).While in situations as described above, I ignore the people talking and wait for someone else to do it.I can do simple math and I can even do marginally complex math.I have to concentrate (a lot) to be able to do it in my head.
So I don't.
I am henceforth blaming my inability to remember, or be prepared for, birthdays on my serious number aversion. It's a terribly awful condition that also affects my ability to be able to successfully use a planner as an adult.I'm not irresponsible or completely disrespectful of people's time. Really.
And I can do math. So if I forget your birthday or your anniversary, please remember, it is not you, it's me.
