Hooray for Highlighters!

As a writer, I've come to realize that I tend to write more passionately about topics that are close to my heart or that hold meaning in my everyday life. After looking back at some of my past posts, I've discovered that (1) I spend way too much time at the office because (2) I have emotional reactions to office supplies. I find that slightly disturbing (especially because I've been regularly-medicated for a while now). I have given warnings to others about the dangers of paper products and have praised the inventor of my amazing stapler. Today, I believe I shall expand on my love of the highlighter.

I've always said that I would marry the man who proposed to me on bended knee with a package of multi-colored, free-flow ink highlighters. Diamonds are supposed to be a girl's best friend and all, but I think HIGHLIGHTERS ROCK!!! :-) You see, I am one of those people who goes to bed at night with the next day's "To Do List" on the brain. I fall asleep to the soothing lull of "I need to do this... and I need to do that..." rather than to counting sheep.

Some people write down a rough "To Do List" for the day or week. The OCD in me, however, compels me to not only write a "To Do List," but to create multiple sublists within the main list! It's not so much that I need the list to remind me of what I need to do. It's because I get a total thrill every time I can mark something off as "completed" with one of my free-flow ink highlighters! It makes me feel so accomplished... So in control and ready to conquer the world! And it makes me even happier when I can color-code completed tasks by category (which is why I need the multi-color pack). They're so pretty, and the beautiful colors make me happy. Someone told me once that I could "just mark it off with a pen." I must have looked at them like they had a third eyeball. ARE YOU NUTS?!? You can't "just mark it off with a pen!" If you do that, you can't see through the ink to see what you've accomplished! DUH!!!

Unfortunately, I didn't realize that my compulsive need for lists and my affection for highlighters weren't exactly normal until I took a personality psychology class in college. The professor was discussing different personality types and some distinguishing characteristics. I wasn't really paying too much attention (I was working on my lists), but then I heard him say "Many Type A personalities will write lists of the lists that they need to write."

I glanced down at the list that I was working on:

• Grocery List
• To Do List
• Homework List for Psych Class
• Lesson Plans for Gymnastics
• What to Pack for Vacation

Well, CRAP! That's embarrassing. I quickly slid that particular list under my book and tried to pay attention, but my highlighters were calling my name, "Taammmmy... Oh, Taaaammy... Use me, Tammy..." So I started working on my "To Do List" instead. The professor goes on to describe more Type A traits and says (as he walks over to my desk and places his hands on my shoulders), "And there are some severe Type A's who might even add something to their list that they've already done just so they can mark it off." I am certain that I turned twenty shades of red because I had done just that! The guy had been watching me the whole time just so he could use me as an example of "one who needs to be medicated."

So, while my somewhat abnormal love for highlighters has caused me some slight embarrassment over the years, I still can't help but ask for them every Christmas. To me, there's no better way to start off a new year than with a brand new package of highlighters. HOORAY FOR HIGHLIGHTERS!!! You bring me such joy... :-)

*** DISCLAIMER - Should my future husband be reading this post, be aware that my comment regarding my preference of highlighters to diamonds in no way releases you from the obligatory diamond engagement ring purchase. I may be a little quirky, but I'm no fool! :-) ***