By: Rose Ismail

I love lists. I don't know about you but I still have notebooks with lists scribbled from decades past!

In university, the lists were pretty mundane -- books to read before writing the poli-sci essay, points to make at the dreaded class discussion and, at the end of my studies, steps to take to find that much-needed job.

Over the next couple of years, the lists tended to be straightforward and sometimes rather urgent: immediate steps to take to stay slim, supermarket stuff or there would be no food on the table that evening, workbooks for school, meds for the kids, and later, my parents.

These days, however, some of my lists are more interesting.

I have one for books to buy and read every year, must-watch movies and, most important of all, places to see before I kick the bucket.

Of course, I don't always make it to the bottom of each and every list. Alaska has been on my travel list for 10 years now and I doubt that I will get there any time soon.

But lists have a way of making you feel you're on the way to achieving something. A good list could make you feel that you are in control of some parts of your life.

This sounds lame but it often gives me a thrill to tick off items done on my many lists, even if it's just for toothpaste and cat food!

Among other things, this article says lists can keep you focused. I do agree. There are many by-ways along the Path of Life and like me, you will be tempted to take some of them. But if you have that one major list which has the essential elements for fulfillment and satisfaction, you will never stray far from your true north.