Johnny Cash's to-do list is the only thing you need to read today.
Written by Cole Schafer
September 1, 2020
Johnny Cash once wrote a to-do list.
Not unlike his songwriting, there wasn’t much room for bush-beating, flower-sniffing and fat-chewing.
He was direct and honest and to the point and in some places, facetious.
It went:
- Not smoke.
- Kiss June (the love of his life).
- Not kiss anyone else.
- Cough.
- Pee.
- Eat.
- Not eat too much.
- Worry.
- Go see Mama.
- Practice Piano.
- Not write notes.
The helpless romantic in me adores two. The foodie in me appreciates six. The athlete, seven. And, the craftsman can’t get enough of ten.
As you probably can imagine, I wasn’t the only soul swept off my feet by the flimsy understated list. Back in 2010, the above slip of paper went for $6,250 at an auction.
Most of us don’t have that kind of money to spend.
So, here’s the priceless takeaway…
We don’t make lists to be more productive. We make lists to remind ourselves to do the things that make life worth living.
Like, kissing June.
But, I digress.
By Cole Schafer.
P.S. This piece was written for my dear friend, client and mentor… Christopher Lochhead.
*The Process is a newsletter that unpacks the processes of humanity’s greatest writers and artists. It’s the creative equivalent to a bump of cocaine (except it’s free and it won’t fuck-up your life).
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