UNFINISHED BUSINESS

A woman that I respect recently told me that she NEVER procrastinates. She said she could be accused of being many things but a procrastinator was definitely not one of them. She further stated that when she dies she knows that there will be no unfinished business between her and anyone else. She explained that when an issue arises in a relationship, she meets with the other person and resolves the misunderstanding or problem immediately.

I was quite amazed and even flabbergasted by her statements. Consequently, her remarks sent me on yet another soul searching expedition.

I confess that I am a "mild" procrastinator and even worse, I recognize that there is some unfinished business in my life.

I further admit there are relationships in my life that I would file under the "unfinished business" category. Unfortunately, these are not just relationships with people who I might have had a disagreement concerning a billing statement or who cut me off in traffic. These people are family.

Here I go again, questioning how the relationships got to this point. Feeling sad, guilty, confused, angry. Feeling the death of relationships but never having closure. For me, this is unfinished business. But after two days of wrestling with this bizarre notion, the thought came to me that my business with these particular family members IS finished, however, not particularly by my design. Ending a relationship does not require an agreement by both parties. One person can decide that it’s over and then, it is. It’s finished, over, null and void.

So, I’m back at square one in my quest to come to terms with fractured relationships and a broken heart. Maybe, one day, I, too, can say that I am not a procrastinator. Maybe when I lie on my deathbed, I can honestly say that I am at peace with all of humanity. Until then, I will make every effort to be true to others and myself and to leave no unfinished business.