A Completionist

To be honest I had never heard the word until the other day when one of my connections on BlueSky used it. He was interested in my quest to read a book from an author born in every country in the world.

He said ‘As a fellow completionist, I love this project, and am glad I stumbled upon it the other day.  I’ve been thinking of trying something similar, and have been inspired by what you’re doing.’

I had to look up the word: ‘a person who wants to complete something such as a game or collection, or to experience as many things as possible connected with something.’ In a way this is me and it makes me think of when I was working at Durham County Council and I tried to work in every room in County Hall. In a way though it’s not me and I will come back to this later.

My attempt to walk up the Wansbeck also fits as I am planning, now that I am almost at the source, to expand this to all the rivers in the county. The project to draw what I see from every bench in Morpeth is another example and Postcrossing is in there somewhere. I am sure there are more.

The BlueSky connection (can I call him a friend?) told me of what he and some of his friends have been doing in a similar vein. He explored his own city (San Francisco) by visiting all 28 branches of the public library and then explored California by visiting all 58 counties. A friend watched all the movies, in order, that won the Oscar for Best Picture, then listened, in order, to all the albums that won the Grammy, then read, in order, all the plays that won the Pulitzer for Drama.  Another friend is reading a sample work from every writer who won the Nobel.  Another read a biography of every US President, while another is riding every bus line in New York City.

I loved the idea of reading the Nobel prize winners and have made a start, borrowing a book of Sully Prudhomme’s poems (1901 and first winner) and a play by Bjørnstjerne Martinius Bjørnson (1903 winner). I have also decided to tackle the Booker prize winners if I need to fill my time. I am also inspired.

I said that I would come back as, in a way I am a completionist, yet in other ways I am not. Firstly, the order doesn’t interest me. I am happy to attempt the task in any order. Chronology isn’t that important. Secondly, it seems that I try tasks which are actually impossible. The offices in County Hall and the books around the world could never actually be achieved, yet I will get as far as I can. As the saying goes, it’s not the winning that counts but taking part.

I used to think I was just obsessed but now I know, I am a completionist.