Not-Doodling Life

(Doodling 9s is the assignment for this week's Fun Monday. However, I decided to take a little liberty with our host Tracey's directions over at Nine Acres and share an example of my use of a related technique, mindmapping.)

Recently I've been into that very satisfying fall task of clearing out files and de-cluttering. In the process, I found this mindmap which must have been done back in 2005, based on the topics I'm exploring. According to Tracey's definition, a doodle is a "sketch or unfocused drawing made while a person's attention is otherwise occupied." A mindmap is quite the opposite. It is a focused, but free-flowing, method for organizing information or ideas on paper. Before retiring, I used mindmaps all the time in my work as a leadership trainer and planner. I'd do mindmaps for a workshop presentation, speech, conference program, or organizational planning. Whenever I found myself running away from a dreaded task, just settling down with a flipchart--usually--sized piece of paper and a handful of colored markers would be all that I needed to get the project on paper and jumpstarted.

I also use mindmaps in my personal life to bring order to a sometimes untidy and disheartened mind and spirit. "Things Undone" is an excellent example of a time when drawing a mindmap has helped me sort out and re-focus. This particular drawing was not dated, but when I re-read it, I knew it must have been in 2005. At that time I was trying to make major decisions about retiring and, in the process, was looking at many aspects of my life: How satisfied was I currently with my work situation? Was I taking care of my health? Was I making an effort to be a good friend and co-worker? Was I following through with my need for creativity and life long learning? Were my finances in order so I could retire comfortably? Was my home a source of pleasure and retreat? As you can see, this mindmap helped me identify what I needed to do before deciding that now was the time to retire. It probably helped me get to sleep as well , because I often would get out of bed and start drawing when I was too troubled or unhappy to sleep!

By the way, I checked out Tracey's doodle analysis which she's added to her Fun Monday post and am currently trying to get over phrases like "fragmented personality", "need for comfort", "need to be center of attention", and, of course, "obsessive" which could be used to analyze my drawing! The only thing that keeps me from going under is that on October 12, 2008, I can honestly mark a lot of these "things undone" off the list. . .that's progress.

Now head over to Tracey's webpage to connect with other Fun Monday participants and try to analyze their Doodling 9s--or just marvel at their artistry.

(And, in keeping with my identified "need to be center of attention"(insert sheepish grin. . .) scroll down to the previous post, if you have a minute, and check out the second installment in my European travelogue, "Around London". Thanks!)