I can’t make little decisions. They are so much harder than the big ones. For instance, when I decided to leave Manhattan and take this job in the Hudson Valley, I only thought about it for a few hours (but I waited 48 hours to give my decision to my new boss, because that seemed like the professional way to do it.) But the other day on my lunch hour, and I had to run two equally unimportant errands, and I only had time for one, so I let fate make my decision. As I was driving to the intersection where I would turn left for the dollar store, or right for the grocery store, I decided that if the light was green I’d go left, and if it was red, I’d go right. (It was green, by the way.)
I do that kind of stuff all the time.
“If I get answer a customer phone call any time this hour then I can have a cookie.”
“If someone takes the treadmill next to me then I’ll run the extra minute.”
“If no one eats the other half of the donut that I cut in half this morning by 3:15 then I will eat the other half.”
And so on. Does anyone else do this or am I just weird? Or both?
24 responses so far ↓
tinetastic // April 9, 2008 at 11:39 pm
No I do stuff like that Noelle, but I think it’s because I’m a Libra and by nature can not make decisions.
I let arbitrary things make my decisions for me all the time.
Arbitrary things like astrology?
Aaron // April 10, 2008 at 2:02 am
Actually, I do the same thing frequently. Big decisions are fine, but it’s the little things that drive me nuts, especially grocery shopping. Even tonight, I waffled for twenty minutes over whether or not to make popcorn.
I’m a Libra like tinetastic. Does that mean astrology is real?
I’m a typical Capricorn in that I think astrology and all belief systems not based on scientific evidence are bullshit. And love popcorn!
FDP // April 10, 2008 at 4:54 am
Hello out there, I have been a little behind in reading your blog and I wanted to say in response to nipple piercing and breast feeding, that after my training in TN and a lengthy discission on breast feeding with Ina May Gaskin (our country’s most renowned Midwife) you can indeed breast feed post piercing, however you might find that the milk will spray out a bit sideways instead of straight ahead, since the direct line of the milk ducts/tubes may be pierced. This isn’t a problem, though it may come as a surpise the first time out and might require that you alter your future child’s latch. So, here’s me saying yee-haw you and don’t give up on breast feeding when and if the time arrises, cause as they say, breast is best!! xoxo
Glad to hear from you! Thanks for assuaging my fears of what will happen when I have children in 20 years.
Howling Hill // April 10, 2008 at 6:32 am
In the movie Amelie, the main character is just like this. If you haven’t seen it, go rent it. Immediately. If not sooner.
I like Amelie, and now that I think of it, that’s one of the reasons why.
nancypearlwannabe // April 10, 2008 at 7:06 am
You’re not alone, my friend. This morning I said to myself, if it’s raining outside I will make myself tea. If it’s nice outside, I will stop for coffee. It’s kind of like tricking your brain into making decisions so you can save your worrying for the big ones.
I like that reasoning, and I hope you enjoyed coffee this morning.
3carnations // April 10, 2008 at 7:22 am
I do that, too! I do the traffic light decision maker, but really, that’s a matter of efficiency. If you choose the thing that will get you through the light faster, you’ll get your errand done quicker.
I also do the snack bargaining thing…
Hooray for life going smoothly!
Deb on the Rocks // April 10, 2008 at 8:40 am
I think this is a sign of a absence of something important in your diet, like gambling. You are gambling with cookies, donuts and miles instead of cash and self-respect. I say a long, sleepless weekend in Atlantic City will correct this little tic.
That’s kind of true, since the idea of losing actual money really bothers me, not the idea of leaving things to chance.
stefanie // April 10, 2008 at 9:12 am
I am the exact same way with inability to make small decisions. (Mine embodies itself more when I’m shopping, though. I’m paralyzed by all the choices in pain relievers, body lotions, mascaras, pasta sauces, hair dryers, etc., and I CANNOT CHOOSE ONE.)
It has never occurred to me to bargain and rationalize to help me through it, though. I should totally start doing that. (”If a woman in a hideous outfit comes into the aisle while I’m deciding, I’ll buy this one. If a man in a hat comes into the aisle, I’ll buy that one.”) Actually, that just sounds like it would make my decisions even more complicated. Possibly more fun, but more complicated.
I think you’re going to have so much fun making up your rules, you’re never going to worry about your choices!
apollocreed // April 10, 2008 at 9:15 am
i just like how you cut a donut in half.
Thanks! I used a plastic knife, in case you want my secret, too.
Allie // April 10, 2008 at 9:21 am
I do stuff like that too! I also worry that some things are foreshadowing — like I’m a literary character — and I could be missing signs of my fate in the little actions of my day. Like later I’d look back and say, I should have known that disaster was going to happen, because my coffee cup was casting an ominous shadow on the kitchen counter this morning (that is a dramatization, I can’t think of a good actual example right now). I can rationalize it away, but it crosses my mind anyway.
Okay, now I feel like I shared a little too much of the crazy.
Life should have more dramatic foreshadowing, that gives all those flowery writers legitimacy.
courtney // April 10, 2008 at 9:29 am
I do the same thing all the time, but that doesn’t mean you’re not weird. I guess we’re both weird.
And I’m a Libra too! Not that I believe in astrology.
I’m cool with being weird, it’s better than astrology!
mickey // April 10, 2008 at 10:07 am
First of all, yes you’re just wierd. And a geek.
I don’t think I do this, but that’s probably because I avoid situations where I might have to make any decision at all.
I love it.
alexa // April 10, 2008 at 11:03 am
oh you are so not weird! i do the same thing in all sorts of aspects of my life.
i think it’s cool because she allows one not to get too serious and sweat the small stuff ya know?
I never thought of it that way, but it’s true, it keeps you from spending too much time on the little things.
katie // April 10, 2008 at 11:23 am
I do the light thing CONSTANTLY
Yes! I’m not alone!
Tara // April 10, 2008 at 11:34 am
Not weird; there are so many things we must make decisions on I think that we get tired of having to make them, this is you conserving energy. I like it.
I wish it would help me be less tired, but alas.
Trish Ryan // April 10, 2008 at 11:40 am
I totally do that. It’s nice to have some sort of interesting way to make decisions, I guess. The worst, though, is when my choice is conditioned on someone calling, or some other thing where I don’t know when it will happen. Now I try to keep parameters on things like that, for my own sanity!
Yeah, sometimes I cheat and kind of base my decisions on things I know will turn out a certain way… And I don’t always hold myself up to my end of the bargain…
Hope // April 10, 2008 at 11:53 am
I’m totally in the process of doing that now. I bought something that was too expensive for me on Ebay, and then decided I should resell it since I didn’t need to spend the money…so I listed it, but then thought I still wanted it so took it off…
Then I was contacted by one of the people who was watching it on Ebay, asking if I was relisting it because she was really interested…I told her no because I decided to keep it.
But then thought better of it again, and emailed her a week or two later to see if she was still interested-thinking…I won’t relist it, but if THIS person still wants it, I’ll sell it.
She is trying to get the money together and is indeed still interested, so I’m still in the “if she gets back to me, I’ll sell it” if not, I will keep it.
Very convoluted story I know…but it’s how it is here in my little brain…
Cute!
Pam // April 10, 2008 at 12:10 pm
I have been doing the same thing for the past couple years. I’m the same way - can make the big decisions, but the petty stuff is a crisis.
E.g. if there is a close parking space, I’ll go into the store/restaurant/coffee joint. Otherwise it’s not meant to be.
I’ve done something similar to the parking spot thing. Like, if there’s a spot in front of the deli, I’ll go there for lunch. If not, I’ll go to the grocery store.
Laurel // April 10, 2008 at 12:37 pm
I think that is a great way to make unimportant decisions. At least you’re not stressing out over them!
I’d prefer to stress over other things. True that.
elizabeth // April 10, 2008 at 1:48 pm
I’m sure this all can be traced back to the light being off in the Kelly’s Dinette sign on the evening of Jan 11, 1978.
(guess this will require an explanation to your loyal readers)
Of course! I totally forgot that I was NAMED because of a decision like that! If the Kelly’s Dinette sign was on, then Dad won the bet, and I would have been named Kelly. But it was OFF, and I was named {Noelle.} I’m still so glad you won that one, Mom!
freeandflawed // April 10, 2008 at 3:38 pm
I don’t think you’re weird!
Chelsea Talks Smack // April 10, 2008 at 5:23 pm
I do those types of things all the times. And I also treat my inner child and give her treats for paying her phone bill on time and stupid things like that…OR MAYBE its just my adult wanting an excuse to have an icecream cone?
Michelle & the City // April 11, 2008 at 10:03 am
i do stuff like that all the time. i absolutely HATE making decisions so doing this comes in handy
Kristabella // April 11, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Mine is mostly an every day thing like “Since I live on the 3rd floor and have to walk up these stairs ALL the time, I can have a ginormous bowl of ice cream tonight.”
And this is why my pants don’t fit.
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