Oklahoma!, Organization, and Optimism

Oklahoma!, Organization, and Optimism

Evening!

Yesterday’s post ended with a short bit about the musical Newsies. Today, when I realized the letter was O (yep, it was the type of day that I had to REALIZE the letter after N is O), and I instantly had songs from the musical Oklahoma! going through my head (as I do now, all jumbled together a bit, in a mash-up gone horribly wrong). Since I love musicals, and Oklahoma! has always been a favorite, this is not a  bad thing – a bit of a confusing thing since the songs mixed up in my head don’t exactly mesh well together, but not a bad thing. I’ve been tagged recently on another site in a picture of a musical poster from my high school. A show we did my junior year of high school – Fiddler on the Roof. Many of us have been talking in the comments area about what those times in music and theatre meant to us, and tiny bits of show memories are cropping to the surface, reminding us of how much fun the utter chaos was during production. I played, as I’m calling it now, a dream zombie (Grandma Tzeitel), as well as a – live – villager, in that production. Some of my best high school memories are from that musical, and I will always be incredibly grateful that I participated in it. The organized chaos from that memory reminds me of a more recent conversation I had about Organization.

Organization

The conversation I keep thinking about was about internal versus external organization. I am much more of the former than the latter. I can keep all kinds of stuff organized in my brain, including some weird trivia that likes to pop its head up every so often to give a cheery ‘ello! to all passersby. 

My external organization, on the other hand, makes sense to me alone. And if someone should move something in order to ‘help’ me, I have to completely redo the project – or at least the organization of it – or I will never get it done. I often have several projects in motion at once, partially because of the whole lack of saying ‘no’ thing, and partially because my job has a crud load of work to it, and I’m constantly working on five things at once in a desperate hope to not fall too far behind. I’m getting better at making my form of external organization more understandable to those around me…but I think that is due to sheer desperation to have people leave my stuff alone so I can actually get something done. On the internal side, I’m lucky to be able to remember and keep track of a ton of information, and constantly have people make comments about how they have no idea how I can track everything I’m doing. Well, ADHD meets OCD and they become best buds, I guess? That might just be my innate Optimism speaking up, though.

Optimism

I totally admit to my status as an eternal Optimist. What that means, in ‘non me’ terms is that I can always find the silver lining when it’s at ‘dark and dreary’ status. Sometimes I have to look really hard to find it, but I’m blessed to know that it is always there, somewhere. Yes, I go through the same emotions and such as everyone else. I just do so with a center of ‘it will work itself out if we do our parts and give it time’ – which I admit does seem to drive some people bonkers – which results in entertainment value at times for me. Whee! Now, there are times when the silver lining appears so stinking huge (at least in my eyes) that it overshadows the dark and dreary. These are the times when I am asked whether I ever get mad. Well, I get upset and angry, but I don’t lose control of my temper, even when I’m doing the angry vent. I work with my students to help them realize that losing control over myself would be handing control to someone else, and I’d rather remain in control – easier to do what I want, when I want. I try to not downplay anything that bugs me, but rather I do my best to not let it sink its teeth into me too far. It’s not always easy, but it’s so definitely worth it – no ulcer medicine!

Okay, I admit it, the earworms from Oklahoma!, and the other musical numbers that have decided to join in on the fun, are driving me a bit batty as I type this, so I think I’ll end it here and dig out my headphones so I can zonk out to something relaxing – and without lyrics. Maybe my dreams will be less…insane…this evening.

May your life be much like a musical: full of fun dancing where everyone knows the steps, great music and lyrics, and – at least in your case – a happy ending that makes your audience sigh in happiness and leave the theatre with a bouncy step.

JBB