The Buddy System

They, you know...those intelligent people with PhD after their names who research things for a living, tell us that doing things with another person or with a group of people will actually help us, well, do things. For example, time and time again I have read that having a workout partner will help you drag your fat ass out of bed and exercise. This has been a hard idea for me accept. I like doing things alone for the most part, but last March I joined a running group and suddenly running six miles was a helluva lot easier. That was with a group of people though--many of whom didn't know my name.

Buddy systems are used in a variety of other environments. When we go out on a Friday night, they tell us to use the buddy system. You watch your friend's back and he/she will watch yours. This is to make sure you both get home safe and sound and, preferably, without any memories you'd rather forget. I am pretty sure we used the buddy system at camp too when I was younger. Someone was supposed to make sure you made it out of the pool alive. Sink or swim buddy-style. I guess one could even describe marriage as another version of the buddy system.

The buddy system is a solid system and one that gets results. I actually ran in a 10mi race last May. I didn't get lost in bars on Friday nights and I didn't get pulled under when swimming in a lake in Maine. The buddy systems have yielded positive results. So why not return to it?

A writer friend and I have decided to use the buddy system. Happy hour deadlines and morning cafe writing dates. There will be pages due. There will be coffee to be had. There will be writing to do. We will hold each other accountable. We will expect results, stellar or otherwise. We will make it through the treacherous path of creative writing and make sure one of us doesn't get lost in the water or in a bar.