The doctor looked at me and asked,

“Why didn’t you rest?”

Without even thinking, I answered,

“It wasn’t on my list.”

I was 40 years old, a mother of five, and had just moved to a new country. I had a medical emergency right before my first solo project at work—and before spending two weeks in the capital with my family. Long story short: I fainted.

The doctor looked at me, frustrated, and asked, “You need a list to know you need rest?” He decided to keep me in the hospital for two days. I realized my list wasn’t just helping me, it was running my life. If something wasn’t written down, it didn’t happen. Rest wasn’t on the list, and I began to wonder: What else was missing?

That question stayed with me for more than two years. I started paying attention to everything I was doing. and adding notes next to my to-do lists: This is House. This is Sell. This is Social. Slowly, the patterns became clear.

Everything in my life fit into three simple categories: Home, Work, and Self.

At first, I thought I was creating this framework just for myself. But I quickly realized it was a form of education for the kids, to my surprise they still ask me to go over their list with them, even with their friends, and this made me realize it may be good for you as well. .

I started The List more than fifteen years ago.

Through every season of my life, this list has been my rock in the midst of the storm.

Today, I feel deeply grateful that I have found it. And I would love to share it with you.

Let’s go over your list.