...When All is Said and Dunn

We all procrastinate a little, putting off those little things that we said we were going to do but really don’t want to do, even though we know in the back of our minds we have to. We’ll get to it eventually, but it can wait. You know, things like cleaning out the closet, washing the car or dog. Those personal little things that you can get away with without any ramifications other than having a messy closet or a dirty car and dog.

It’s when your procrastination affects other people that it ceases to be personal and takes on a nasty “I don’t give a damn” attitude. When you make a commitment to do something and you either do it half-assed, half way, or not at all.

This is something that makes me crazy. If you are going to do it, do it. Don’t say you are going to do something if you have no intention of fulfilling your promise. Don’t volunteer for a job if you are going to be too busy, too stoned, or too preoccupied to do what you say you are going to do. If you’re going to talk the talk, walk the walk.

I am sick to death of listening to and seeing people say “Oh, I’ll do it” and never following through. Look, we all know volunteering is great, a truly noble endeavor, and I encourage everyone to do it. But don’t approach it as though you have just been sentenced to 20 years to life in Alcatraz. Do it because you want to and it is out of the goodness of your heart, not in a moment of sobriety.

Granted, there are times when you are forced into volunteerism. Like when you are faced with fulfilling a snack bar shift at your local youth league. You see, when you sign your kid up to play, you have to commit to do two snack bar shifts per child. If you are unable to do your shift you have two options - you can pay twenty bucks per shift or find some kind hearted soul with a spare three hours to work it for you. But it’s a necessary evil to keep the snack bar staffed. Without a little prodding, you would always have the same five people working over and over again. You definitely need more than that just to keep someone like Joe Torosian in taquitos

So many people in this day and age are reluctant to step forward and help out any organization, even one that is obviously benefiting their children. Even though you are “forced” into volunteering, it’s not a bad thing. Ultimately your three hours helps so many, it feels good, and you can walk away feeling good about yourself.

Then there is that mystical breed of volunteer. They act like they are doing something but in reality they do very little if anything at all. When given a task they hem and haw, say they are on it but nothing ever seems to happen. When questioned about it, out come the excuses and you know what they say about excuses. “Excuses are like…” well you know what they say. Again why bother to offer in the first place if you are not going to do it? You’re just wasting the time of everyone involved.

Maybe I am being a little too anal about this, but when I offer to do a job voluntarily, I do it and do it as quickly as possible. If I wait too long it just adds pressure to the task, and if there is any fun to be had it is quickly erased or diminished at best. Get the job done quickly, don’t put it off, and you have more time to appreciate the outcome.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, just ask my wife, kids, or parents. What I will say is that when I say I am going to paint something, I paint it. Not half of it, but all of it, and I do it as fast as I can. That’s only fair to the people that I made my commitment to. So when they ask for or I volunteer my services again, they won’t think “Can this guy finish the job on time, can we depend on him to do this job?” The proof is always in what you have done before. Those who don’t change history are doomed to repeat it.

So when you volunteer, which I hope you all do, when given your job, do it well and do it now. Don’t wait for someone to remind you to do it. Don’t wait until the last minute expires before you start, because by then, it will be too late.