I grew up in the midwest within its 1960’s work ethics. Then, before a child was 5 years old, he or she was taught the value of hard work and doing a job promptly and doing it well. The words of my parents still ring in my ears, “if you’re going to do it, do it right.” And that usually meant do it now. That is undoubtably where I met one of the first ugly words of my life. Uttered by my parents, it would interrupt and break into the sweet flow of my childhood contentment. Even today it is one of my least favorite words. It is the word “procrastination.”
Perhaps that is why I so much enjoy the similar southern phrase “Am a fixin to;” and I have adopted that as my personal mantra. For those of you not ensconced in the south, it means something akin to “considerin to.” It means: the task is there somewhere on your mind, usually way in the back, and you’re thinking about it…a little. It doesn’t mean you’re even going to do it at all, but it at least buys you a few moments of peace from your wife. Some semblance of “a fixin to” is conveyed in another of my favorite phrases, “When a man says he’ll do something, he’ll do it. You don’t need to nag him every 6 months!”
All this leads me to the conclusion that we need to use PC culture to change the harsh reality of this word “procrastination,” which has undoubtedly ruined and given many of us children so much emotional distress. I am sure that “many authorities” can be cited as relating this harsh term to our current societal maladies, such as snowflake sensitivities, overconsumption of sugar-containing beverages, and probably even that global warming I’ve been hearin’ about. After giving this topic its proper consideration, I think we need to soften the real meaning of procrastination to something more politically gentle. Perhaps we could call it “restication.” It’s a long word, so it sounds kind of sophisticated, and I think it would be adopted quickly by them smart folks… It would not mean putting things off because you’re actually too lazy to do them, but instead, a “rest” from this busy, chaotic, stressful life of ours. Yes, “restication” I think will do. The only question is, will my wife go for it? Now what was I “a fixing to” do?
lem