When my children lived at home, they heard that often from me.

I would use the phrase when they would complain about having to do something that was a result of a choice they had made.

They didn’t want to do homework after soccer practice because they were too tired? Well, “life is full of choices. You may not have a choice about the homework, but you had a choice about the soccer.”

Too tired on Saturday morning to help with the housework because they stayed up watching a late movie on TV? “Well, that was your choice, and you have to live with the consequences.”

They heard the phrase from their mean ol’ Mama so often, it became an acronym: L-I-F-O-C.

What It Meant Then

Back then, I used the phrase to remind my longsuffering family members that if their “hardship” was a result of a free choice they had made, they really had no reason to complain. Whether they realized it or not, they had chosen that hardship.

Because I heard myself repeat that phrase so often, I am acutely aware of and try to stop myself before I complain – whether or not the cause of complaint has been my choice. All complaining does is remind you and others of your discontent. Sure, complaining sometimes gets results, but at what price? (But that’s a subject for another post.)

What It Means Now

Recently, when I took on a new responsibility, “L-I-F-O-C” came back to haunt me. I had made a commitment to virtual strangers who, sight unseen, are trusting me with proofing and editing posts on their instructional Blogging with Success. I’m excited about the opportunity; it will let me use my abilities and even expand on them.

However, once the commitment was made, I had to ask myself, “Okay, Cheryl. You’re made this choice. What are you willing to give up in order to honor your commitment?”

A Simple Matter of Time

It’s a simple concept: We are each given only 24 hours in a day. When we choose to do one thing, we have decided not to do an infinite number of other things.

Since lists help give me an objective viewpoint, I typed a quick list of items I do now, have promised to do, or want to do.

Of the 21 items on the list:

• Ten use the phrase: “I have promised to” or “I have agreed to.”
• Two begin with, “I like to.” These are self-indulgent – recreational reading and playing computer games (FreeCell and Facebook’s WordTwist, to be specific).
• The rest include “I should” or “I would like to”: exercise more, call my kids more often, clean out those boxes in the basement, play my piano, follow up on blogging how-to’s I’ve printed out.

Oh yes! I also like to sleep and eat and take in a Friday night movie with my husband. And then there’s cooking, housework and laundry.

Decision Time

Before I commit to still another responsibility, I need to look at the list I’ve made and realize that if I take on something new, one of those things will have to go. Some items need to go. Most likely, I’ll discover I’m spending too much time on things that didn’t even make the list!

And I’ll remember L-I-F-O-C. It’s a good phrase – both as a reminder and a warning.

By the way, I’ve now edited the copy on two articles for Blogging with Success (for 9/16 and 9/18) and have discovered it won’t be that much of a time commitment. So — if you’ll excuse me, I think it’s my turn on WordTwist.

Talk to me. How do you decide whether or not to say “No” to projects that come your way? I already have a list of seven considerations, the beginning of another post. I’m sure you can add to my list. Thanks for your help.