Growing up, I always had an usual Christmas gift request: office supplies. A ream of 8 1/2 x 11 paper, a fresh pack of Sharpie pens, some new Post-it Notes, and I was a one happy girl. This all of course fueled endless hours of "school" playing with friends.
And now, 15 years later, things have changed... Actually, no, they haven't at all.
It's long been an Azzolino family Christmas tradition to give and get calendars for the new year in our stockings. I'll shamelessly admit that these calendars are often times one of my favorite gifts. For me, a calendar is much more than just a reminder of the date; it's a blank slate - a place to plan, record, and cross off 365 days of goals and accomplishments.
I feel a bit like a rebel, when everyone around me is trying out the latest and greatest (digital) ways to keep on top of their to-do's (Evernote, Siri, etc.). Call me crazy, but this year, yet again, I'm supporting the old school paper version.
A recent Fast Company article highlighted a study proving that writing things out (as opposed to typing) actually supports productivity. And, business efficiency consultant Marina Martin says that it's physically and psychologically more difficult to leave an item undone atop a paper to-do list. Hitting the delete button on an iPhone just isn't the same as getting out a red Sharpie and drawing a bold line through your list, is it? Job well done, mission accomplished.
You get the point: I love my paper calendars. So imagine my dismay when there was no calendar for me under the Christmas tree. (What?!) Apparently my family felt major pressure to find the right one after last year's rockstar gift (see picture below). They couldn't find anything to live up to the high standards.
Despite some serious Googling, I've yet to find the 2012 version of this incredible (albeit oversized, perhaps) desk calendar.
So, join me on the hunt for the mystery desk calendar; and if you find it, I might just buy one for you too. Here's to a year worth writing about. Happy 2012!
