The Readers Blog is a group blog, a collection of provocative, passionate people who represent a broad geographical, professional, personal and vocational range. New bloggers from other places and other points of view will join the conversation from time to time. Here, we invite them all to share their perspectives and opinions on the issues that matter to them most. And we invite you to respond. Let the dialogue begin!


Peace with deadlines

I did it! Last weekend, I finished my sixth spiritual adventure novel, sent it to my editor, and he started sending me suggestions immediately. We have a meeting scheduled for Monday, so I needed time to consider and make the changes. Well, I did it! Finished about an hour ago and does it feel great.

It got me thinking about deadlines and how so many of them are self-imposed, stressful, and really unnecessary.

Deadline is a word with a dismaying etymology. It comes from prison guards drawing a line in the dirt. If a prisoner stepped over that line, instant death was theirs. Yikes! Are you sure you want deadlines in your life? Not me.

In order to make peace with commitments I�ve made related to time, I�ve upgraded those agreements to timelines, not deadlines. The thing about timelines is that they feel to me like they can be revised, renegotiated, adapted vis-�-vis deadlines which feel . . . well, deadly. Time, that fickle mistress, is elastic and it will work with us if we will work with it.

How real are your deadlines, dear one? Really real? Or are they really flexible?

Allowing time to be elastic and to support us is a choice we can make for peace.

posted by Susan Corso on 2/10/2008 6:48 pm | COMMENTS (2)
Comments (2)

Dear katiek, AND, wonder of wonders . . . if we'll let go of our illusion of control, amazing things happen! I was in the midst of my sixth novel when I needed the names of all different kinds of roses for a plot turn. Imagine my delight when a catalogue arrived in that day's mail from Jackson & Perkins -- they're in the business of selling all different kinds of roses! Ask and let go, a magical formula. It makes me realize how much the Universe wants to bless us all with whatever we need whenever we need it. Thanks for commenting, Susan

posted by Susan Corso on 3/11/2008 9:16 am

Congratulations on your new book!

Wouldn't life be so much easier without deadlines! Your post got me thinking. Deadlines are very unnatural. Where in nature do you see things work by deadline? Flowers don't say "alright, we all have bloom by March 20." They bloom naturally when the time is right and when all else in nature is ready. A lot of creativity can be lost in deadlines because you are so determined to get things done by a certain time that your focus gets strayed from the actual product.

posted by katiek on 2/10/2008 6:59 pm

Post a comment

You must be a registered user to comment. If you are already registered Click here to login or Click here for our fast, free registration.



YES! Please enter my 1 year subscription (10 issues) to Ode magazine and bill me later at the low rate of only $29.95 - a savings of 40% off the regular price! As a part of my paid subscription, Ode will plant a tree to help stop global warming. If I am ever dissatisfied, I can cancel at any time and receive a refund on all unmailed issues.
Offer good for new subscribers only. Offer good in U.S. only. Overseas subscribers please click here. Newsstand price is $4.95 per issue. Please allow 4 to 6 weeks for mailing of first issue. Subscribers: If the Post Office alerts us that your magazine is undeliverable, we have no further obligation unless we receive a corrected address within two years.
Ode Privacy Policy.