Old Tricks

Since we moved here at the end of August, I have not used many of the strategies (tricks) I previously relied on to keep life running smoothly and prevent me from burning down the house or leaving water running in the sink for hours on end. I thought I was using better methods to stay focused and prevent my brain injury from making our lives chaotic.

On my frig hangs a very useful tool I picked up from Giveback . It lists 7 Techniques for Success:

1. Anticipate mistakes
2. Get prepared
3. Try harder; be more careful
4. Take pause as needed
5. Do only ONE thing at a time
6. Don't outrun your brain
7. Watch for mistakes
   

Notice the list starts and ends with mistakes. Errors. At Giveback, we learn to analyze our errors using a specific form (an EA or Error Analysis form) designed to aid in understanding how and why the mistake was made and to devise workable plans to prevent its repetition. I have over 150 EA forms filled in and, believe me, it helps and is worth the tedium ant time to do them.

But I still make mistakes, and one of them is thinking I can get away without using my cumbersome strategies or tricks. Here's a sample of what I'm talking about...

Today, Baby Snooks, our old bulldog was barking at the front door. She does that sometimes, but this time she was on the outside. I have no idea how long she had been out there. We don't have a fence so always stay with her when we take her out. I must have just wandered back in and forgotten I had her.

Yesterday evening I went to the kitchen for some water. It was really hot in there. I had left a burner on... for the second time in three days. Earlier, I had discovered water running on the bathroom sink I hadn't used since early that morning.

I have repeatedly driven off leaving the garage door open, and as often as not, I forget to lock the house when I leave. There are other "errors," but you get the idea. 

What is bad is that I know strategies to deal with most of these issues and have not been using them. Pride. I don't want red and blue dots or stars pasted around my new house to remind me to check the stove and water. I don't want a tag on my keychain to remind me to check the dog, bring my phone, lock up before I drive off, etc. 

The bottom line is I am acting like a spoiled child. I need these tricks, crutches, or whatever you want to call them. I have many strategies, and I should be using them all! 

Guess I'll be going back to my old tricks.