For those of you just joining us, I have really, really bad problems with filling out necessary forms on time.

When they are simple or easily laid out or necessary for me to do immediately, right now, or else I won’t get something I want (like a job, or medical care), I can do it. But things like taxes, which seem mandatory but can get way away from you? Can’t do it. If I don’t grasp it, if I’m overwhelmed by it, I have a panic attack.

Apparently it runs in the family: when I called my dad crying about my lack of tax skills, he told me not to worry and that he hadn’t done his for years when he was older than I and that I was not going to be arrested or owe the government ten million dollars. Which made me stop crying, but also helped me rationalize putting it off for another unacceptable length of time. 

They are not filed yet, but I just met with a dude who is going to help me get rid of them! It was great because he was able to put it in perspective: I may owe some money, I may pay some penalties (which I have some $$ socked away for), I may get some money - probably all of the above. But he knows what I have to do, and in what order.

But most importantly, shit is finally getting done on something I’ve been putting off for forever. And suddenly, it makes all the other stuff I’ve been putting off for forever seem suddenly halfway possible. I can finish and publish those DP posts. I can send out that pitch I’ve been ruminating over, I can finish up that weird freelance assignment about money managers.

WOOO EFFICACY (eta: that link? it is old, and talks about weight in a dieting context. and there are probably other problems. but i still like it.)