If I understand it correctly, we are all given the same amount of time every day: 24 hours, 1440 minutes. Looking around at the people I know, it's amazing to me how we each choose to spend that time.
I know, I know - most of you are going to say "CHOOSE?!?! HAH! Most of my time is spent for me by others". And I get that. For years, I felt like Steve Martin's character in Parenthood : when asked by his wife if he has to go somewhere, his response is, "My whole life is 'have-to'"
But to a great extent, we DO choose how we spend our time; outside of work and the immediate care of the sick or the young, we allow who we let interrupt us, who we let slide, what we ingest in our minds and our souls. The key is being aware, consciously, of where our time goes.
If you have a problem with spending money, the experts suggest that you operate with cash only: a swipe of a card doesn't make the imprint on your mind that physically taking money from a wallet does. By removing the cash, you can easily see how much you are pulling out, how much is left, and thus can make a last minute decision about the expenditure. Now obviously, we don't have the capability to do that with our time, but there are some other things we can consider:
+Set a timer for yourself. If you are the type to get distracted by social media, set a timer (across the room, or in another room all together) and when that timer goes off - you're off line. (Even if you've not completed the "Which Dwarf are You?" Questionnaire. Of which there are only 7 options. Yeah.............)
+Write down what is important to you. Not what you want other people to think is important to you, but what IS important to you. If you say you want to have time to read the Bible, but you really prefer to read Tori Spelling's blog - just be honest with yourself and admit it. But if you DO really want to have time to read the Bible, the truth is that you DO. It just means that something else will not get your time. Like Tori. Or Doc and Sneezy and the boys.
+Make sure your newly decided wish to change your expenditure of time includes quiet time, or prayer time, or doing nothing time. If there is a disease of our generation, it is silence deficiency. And NO, doing the above while brushing your teeth or being stopped at a red light does not count. Or, you know, hanging with Tori.
+Mean what you say and say what you mean. It's so easy to postpone something you either don't have time for or don't want to take time for by saying, "We need to get together soon", or "I'll look into that next week", or "I really will start doing that (Monday/Next year/When the kids go off to camp/when monkeys fly"). Slow down before you speak. And think about what you say. I have a couple of people in my life - and you do as well, I'll bet - who will see you and tell you they REALLY miss you, and REALLY want to have lunch with you no kidding, and they'll text you next week. Have you heard from yours yet? I didn't think so; neither have I.
THE REALITY IS THAT OFTEN THE LEAST IMPORTANT THINGS MAKE THE MOST NOISE. The very nature of the critical, essential aspects of our life is such that seldom do they make noise. They just are there. Until one day, they're not. And when you need that person, that Bible verse, that still small voice - they're not there. Or you don't remember where it is. Or you don't recognize His voice.
Okay. Enough time reading this blog. Get on to the important things in life... Blessings on your way.
I know, I know - most of you are going to say "CHOOSE?!?! HAH! Most of my time is spent for me by others". And I get that. For years, I felt like Steve Martin's character in Parenthood : when asked by his wife if he has to go somewhere, his response is, "My whole life is 'have-to'"
But to a great extent, we DO choose how we spend our time; outside of work and the immediate care of the sick or the young, we allow who we let interrupt us, who we let slide, what we ingest in our minds and our souls. The key is being aware, consciously, of where our time goes.
If you have a problem with spending money, the experts suggest that you operate with cash only: a swipe of a card doesn't make the imprint on your mind that physically taking money from a wallet does. By removing the cash, you can easily see how much you are pulling out, how much is left, and thus can make a last minute decision about the expenditure. Now obviously, we don't have the capability to do that with our time, but there are some other things we can consider:
+Set a timer for yourself. If you are the type to get distracted by social media, set a timer (across the room, or in another room all together) and when that timer goes off - you're off line. (Even if you've not completed the "Which Dwarf are You?" Questionnaire. Of which there are only 7 options. Yeah.............)
+Write down what is important to you. Not what you want other people to think is important to you, but what IS important to you. If you say you want to have time to read the Bible, but you really prefer to read Tori Spelling's blog - just be honest with yourself and admit it. But if you DO really want to have time to read the Bible, the truth is that you DO. It just means that something else will not get your time. Like Tori. Or Doc and Sneezy and the boys.
+Make sure your newly decided wish to change your expenditure of time includes quiet time, or prayer time, or doing nothing time. If there is a disease of our generation, it is silence deficiency. And NO, doing the above while brushing your teeth or being stopped at a red light does not count. Or, you know, hanging with Tori.
+Mean what you say and say what you mean. It's so easy to postpone something you either don't have time for or don't want to take time for by saying, "We need to get together soon", or "I'll look into that next week", or "I really will start doing that (Monday/Next year/When the kids go off to camp/when monkeys fly"). Slow down before you speak. And think about what you say. I have a couple of people in my life - and you do as well, I'll bet - who will see you and tell you they REALLY miss you, and REALLY want to have lunch with you no kidding, and they'll text you next week. Have you heard from yours yet? I didn't think so; neither have I.
THE REALITY IS THAT OFTEN THE LEAST IMPORTANT THINGS MAKE THE MOST NOISE. The very nature of the critical, essential aspects of our life is such that seldom do they make noise. They just are there. Until one day, they're not. And when you need that person, that Bible verse, that still small voice - they're not there. Or you don't remember where it is. Or you don't recognize His voice.
Okay. Enough time reading this blog. Get on to the important things in life... Blessings on your way.
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