Tax forms and the new year

Every year when I do my taxes, I have to search through piles of paper to find all the forms and receipts I need. I always decide that I am going to keep all my tax-related material in one place, but it doesn't happen. However, it's not all my fault that I struggle with staying organized; it is partly genetic. You see, my mother was an antique dealer, and my father did flea markets and yard sales. My DNA is predisposed to collect things. I am sure that if I was the only human that alien scientists ever met, they would find chromosomal similarities to a pack rat. I also love sales. If you are like me, don't ever turn on the television at 3 in the morning and watch one of those paid advertisements. I always find myself thinking, "Wow! It vacuums the floor, washes dishes, inflates tires, and makes creme brule--all in one! How did I ever get by without one?" I have to stay away.

So, like every year, I have started going through papers to find receipts for the IRS. If I am going to get a little refund, I try to file early. If I am going to have to pay, I may wait until April. Wouldn't it be nice if there was always a refund for those who file early? That would be good motivation. Sadly, it is not that way with taxes. However, it may well be different with writing.

Organization plays a huge part in the writing process; so does having the time to be careful and thoughtful in the assignment. When you get things done early, there is less stress, less rushing, and less chance for mistakes. You can take time to really look at what you wrote to see if there is any better way to present it. When you can do that, your grade will really be like a tax refund. Waiting until the last minute, however, is like starting your taxes on April 12. You have to rush to get all your material, put it together as quickly as possible, and hope you didn't make any mistakes. At those times, you pay before and after.

So, now is the time to begin working on being organized and starting things earlier instead of later. Remember--a refund is always better.

The mailman

The mailman approached the building, his mind focused on his mission. Nothing would stop him from reaching the box. With the goal in sight, he broke into a sprint. He raced forward over bush, grass, and sidewalk until . . . a patch of black ice sent his feet into the air and his face on the ground. The mailman lay there for some time, breathing heavily as his merry-go-round world melted back into focus. A sharp pain shouted through his skull, but his mission continued to sing quietly like the gentle dawn of spring. He had to deliver the mail; failure was not an option. Slowly, the mailman managed to get to his feet and walk the remaining paces to the box. He delivered his contents and walked away, the sweet taste of success coating his pristine vision.

Sometimes we make mistakes with writing. Sometimes we even fall flat on our faces. It is what we do after our failures that define us. Do we lie there in pain, never finishing our task, or do we, like the mailman, get up and finish what we started? The Writing Center challenges you to be the mailman of your own life.

2008

Happy New Year!

Now is the time for New Year's Resolutions. If, like most people around the world, you woke up January first and thought to yourself, "I want to become a better writer," then we can help. Unlike a gym, there are no membership fees*. So come on by or call in to start changing your life today!

*besides what you have already paid to attend the university