By the way, those of you with "normal" jobs probably don't have to do this, but since I work for several (and by several I mean 10+) companies as a freelance or self-employed producer, camera assistant, boom operator, musician, (and soon-to-be self-employed Hypnotherapist), I get to deduct a lot of expenses that go towards these various jobs. Geesh! Writing it out that way makes me realize how many random things I do. Don't worry, I don't work nearly as much as I used to. At one point it was 70+ hours a week. Now it varies from job to job. The last time I worked around 70 hours in a week was on a commercial last November. As much as I appreciate the work, I don't look forward to another job like that as I was doing logistics and that exhausts me way more than creative. These days I'm working more in creative or as a crew member which doesn't sit so heavily on my left brain (on "crew" I'm doing boom operating or lighting/camera and it's more hands-on). I also like creative because I get to (duh), be creative and usually interview people and that's fun for me since I tend to do that with people anyway. I suppose that's a large part of what I'll be doing in Hypnotherapy too. Humph. Makes sense. But I digress. Back to taxes.
So here's what I do. I watch movies while I'm processing my expenses. For the most part, I don't need to focus that hard on what I'm doing. A monkey could tape receipts to a piece of paper. Though they'd get bored, anything a monkey could do (I mean no disrespect, as I acknowledge fully the brain power and opposable thumbs of our primate cousins), I figure I can do while doing something else slightly more enjoyable.
Now I recommend doing these mind-less paperworky kinds of things with light-hearted movies, as taxes are usually not lighthearted for most people. Last year I remember watching "Enchanted" which is not only lighthearted, it's also silly and doesn't take a lot of concentration to get the plot. This year I've been watching romantic comedies that I might not have the attention-span or patience for watching without another thing to keep me busy. When in Rome (which honestly wasn't great but at least it gave me a little entertainment while doing my taxes), and I also throw in a little television too. I quite enjoy The Marriage Ref (on nbc/hulu - love dvr & watching shows online at my convenience), which is right up my alley since I'm developing a show on relationships, sex and food.
But maybe, just maybe, there's a bigger lesson than just realizing my adult-onset attention deficit disorder's need to watch movies and television while doing my taxes.
A dear friend reminded me recently of one of my favorite Zen teachings:
Before Enlightenment, chop wood carry water.
After Enlightenment, chop wood carry water. (link for more)
Are taxes like this? Am I becoming more enlightened or zoning out? I imagine most zen masters would say there isn't that much a difference because it's all part of my path to becoming more enlightened.
As much as I wish I could just enjoy things that I don't enjoy. I'm still growing in that arena. Really, the only difference between things we enjoy and don't enjoy is our association with them. Think about it. Folks into S&M (sadomasochism) enjoy very much things that would be painful or torture to other people. I wonder if anyone has a tax-fetish.
Hmmm.
But for now, I'm pleasuring myself with television and movies while doing paperwork and other menial activities at home (since I need both hands to do paperwork and housework - for all the perverts out there picking up my innuendo).
Try it. Let me know how it goes.
More Interesting Katie Strand World Posts
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- How my friend Sally became the new First Lady
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- Raw Primal Papaya Custard - The Nectar of the Gods
- And All the Cows Said Moo!
- If you were John Mayer, you would too
- Tiredness - Varieties of and unforeseen side-effects
- Foreplay is overrated
- Food should be As God Intended or Why isn't everything we eat organic?
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- The Cove - Louie Psihoyos' Oscar speech & a guide on how to create change...
- My Favorite Things...Arrabiata Recipe - Fresh, Organic, Vegan or Primal
- My Favorite Shows on Television...or how David Duchovney & Jesus are likely Good in Bed
- The Hawaiian Islands and Washington D.C.’s sand-paper circle-jerk about Health Care
- My Buddha has Termites...A Lesson in Infinite Joy
- The One-Date-Wonders!
- I had to learn SIGN LANGUAGE when I moved to Los Angeles
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- Hello? The power of CONNECTING and how technology has changed things
- Popping the question is better than porn!
- Bravo, Stephen Colbert & Co! and your Olympic Vancouverage
- Songwriting is like SEX
- Born To Run by Christopher McDougall - Inspiring a inspiring all of us to be more in the FLOW
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- I think my boyfriend's a snake...
- Release... Sweat & Power
- MY FAVORITE THINGS! - Vibram's Five Fingers
- Dick Morris... How do you sleep at night?
- Rusty DePass, Gorillas, and Obama, oh my!
- Michael Jackson - Troubled Genius
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