I don’t make use of a ‘too hard basket’. I do, however, have a ‘basket’ where I put things that I will never get round to doing because I have lost interest, have more important things to do (like memoir writing), or for numerous other reasons.
I first discovered this basket many years ago when I was employed. The department where I worked had an ongoing problem attracting and keeping Finance Managers. This was due to the Director being a bully. I was never the subject of his bullying. He was always very pleasant to me. He even came to my retirement gathering, which was most unusual. Perhaps he was pleased to see the last of me. However, he was the cause of several people leaving and/or having a nervous breakdown.
As a result of the constant changing of Finance Managers and the absence of anyone working in that role, often for a few weeks, some of the work became backlogged. Then another new person was employed to fill the position. She was a bully too. The first day she started work she was like tornado, creating havoc and upsetting several staff. Clearing the backlog was her priority, but it wasn’t part of her plan to do it herself. There was a pile of documents on her desk, left there by previous incumbents. They needed to be filed. The pile was about 60cm high. She picked them up and took them to me “Elizabeth, file these” she said.
Out of some deep recess of my mind came my response. “You see that basket over there,” I said pointing to an unused basket. “Put them there. That’s where I put things I will never have time to do.” She gave me a strange look, put the documents in the basket and walked away. I had no intention of doing her filing. I had enough of my own to do. She never bothered me again.
She stayed in the job for about fourteen months. The day she left, I picked up the pile of documents and placed them back on the Finance Manager’s desk.
Ever since that day I have made use of this expedient ‘basket’. Currently it contains two unfinished patchwork quilts, several recipes, photos, a photo album and a half crocheted jumper. Someday, if I live long enough, I may finish one or both quilts. The photos will never go into the album. I have discovered online photo books. The recipes will never see the light of day. I love reading about delicious meals but I don’t like cooking. I considered the jumper too old fashioned and abandoned it. Someday I may unpick it and use the yarn for a different project.
In the meantime, exercise classes, writing and genealogy which has just been retrieved from the above ‘basket’, is taking precedence.
⸭⸭⸭⸭⸭
Elizabeth Kearns
March 2021
I first discovered this basket many years ago when I was employed. The department where I worked had an ongoing problem attracting and keeping Finance Managers. This was due to the Director being a bully. I was never the subject of his bullying. He was always very pleasant to me. He even came to my retirement gathering, which was most unusual. Perhaps he was pleased to see the last of me. However, he was the cause of several people leaving and/or having a nervous breakdown.
As a result of the constant changing of Finance Managers and the absence of anyone working in that role, often for a few weeks, some of the work became backlogged. Then another new person was employed to fill the position. She was a bully too. The first day she started work she was like tornado, creating havoc and upsetting several staff. Clearing the backlog was her priority, but it wasn’t part of her plan to do it herself. There was a pile of documents on her desk, left there by previous incumbents. They needed to be filed. The pile was about 60cm high. She picked them up and took them to me “Elizabeth, file these” she said.
Out of some deep recess of my mind came my response. “You see that basket over there,” I said pointing to an unused basket. “Put them there. That’s where I put things I will never have time to do.” She gave me a strange look, put the documents in the basket and walked away. I had no intention of doing her filing. I had enough of my own to do. She never bothered me again.
She stayed in the job for about fourteen months. The day she left, I picked up the pile of documents and placed them back on the Finance Manager’s desk.
Ever since that day I have made use of this expedient ‘basket’. Currently it contains two unfinished patchwork quilts, several recipes, photos, a photo album and a half crocheted jumper. Someday, if I live long enough, I may finish one or both quilts. The photos will never go into the album. I have discovered online photo books. The recipes will never see the light of day. I love reading about delicious meals but I don’t like cooking. I considered the jumper too old fashioned and abandoned it. Someday I may unpick it and use the yarn for a different project.
In the meantime, exercise classes, writing and genealogy which has just been retrieved from the above ‘basket’, is taking precedence.
⸭⸭⸭⸭⸭
Elizabeth Kearns
March 2021
RSS Feed
