March Slice of Life Story Challenge
hosted at the Two Writing Teachers
Join us for a month of writing!
Time. It's one of those things that keeps on moving forward. Sometimes I want it to speed up. Other times I wish it would just slooooow down. All depends on the moment in ... time.
Yesterday, Cathy wrote about time, especially time on Saturdays, and as she usually does, she nudged me to do some thinking. She wrote:
"My grandfather used to say, 'If something is important enough for you, you'll find time for it.' Deep down I'm pretty sure he is right, but I wonder why there are so many things that are important to me which I still struggle to find time for in my life."
I agreed with so much that Cathy wrote about in her reflection about precious time. In my comment, I replied:
"Time is a restraining force, yet even if we had MORE time, we would still have the same feelings about it! There's never enough. I'm with you -- there are many things I want to do in a day (like exercise or more time to read), but it doesn't always happen. Some activities require more energy (like cleaning or writing) and at the end of a long, busy day, I'm just too tired! It's a struggle for us all, but you have captured your thinking and given me a chance to think more about time. But that's why I love Saturdays too. (That's my slice today!)"
I realized that I do make time for what I value and think is important. During this month long writing challenge (and Tuesdays throughout the year), I value writing. I take the time each evening to create a slice to share. Reading slices and commenting is also important to me because I value the comments that others leave for me. I'm sneaking in time in the morning, or at lunch, or late in the evening to read slices and comment. I'm still meeting my personal minimum goal of commenting (three old friends and three new), but of course, I'd love to read more slices and leave more comments.
Yet, because I have chosen to dedicate my time to the writing challenge, I have chosen to let go of other activities. My devotions are read daily, but the Bible isn't always opened. I've neglected Pinterest. I haven't been reading books. There are only brief moments on Twitter. Exercise is not even a thought, until yesterday.
Yesterday I took some time. My hubby and I joined our local YMCA about a month ago. Our initial goal was to get our daughters signed up for swim lessons and we would start working out. The girls would be busy at the kid play center while we would be breaking a sweat. Well, the girls started swim lessons, but there wasn't much sweat happening on our part.
Until yesterday. We hopped in the car and headed to the Y. Everyone made the time to move. I walked at a good pace for thirty minutes on the treadmill while enjoying getting back into my book that had been forgotten on my nightstand.
It's always about balance. My time is precious to me, and I'm not going to waste it. I'm going to use my time to balance what I need to get accomplished mixed with a little procrastination of what I want to do.
And have you ever noticed that everything usually takes more time, especially when it needs to be done just right?
It seems that many things in life revolve around balance. As I have said many times, you mothers with young kids - I don't see how you get it all done. Hooray for you to get in some movement time yesterday. Have a great Sunday!
ReplyDeleteYea . . . this time thing, how do we balance when we have any of it! Good for you starting back on the treadmill, that's my goal starting again tomorrow after work. Good luck to both of us ;-)
ReplyDeleteTime, no matter how much or little we think we have, is always the same 24 hours. As you said, you are using your time to do what is important to you. So glad that you're getting back on the treadmill and taking some time for yourself. Love ya, Mom
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel. I've got a few things on the back burner too. This is my last week of coaching speech for the year. I've written on my brain (and on my calendar) the things I want to start doing again....walking Chloe daily, reading every night, a little spring cleaning......
ReplyDeleteTo use the time to do what we must, wish, want, need - we will never get everything done, but we can make choices, and let some things go, and forgive ourselves when we fail in keeping up with what we think we should do. I am glad that you took the time to do what you needed and enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteWhat Terje said - because I couldn't have said it any better.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, the balancing act. March is a tough month to balance it all when you add SOLSC to your plate. So much good comes from the additional time but things tend to fall away from your focus. Good for you that you are working to balance it all.
ReplyDeleteMichelle,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your thoughtful reflections on time. It does seem that during certain times parts of our world require more time and attention than others. I guess we have to adjust to that. It is a bit of a balancing act, isn't it? I'm glad you managed to squeeze in a little time to exercise. My house needed desperately to be cleaned and I wanted to fix a decent dinner today. I decided to put on my headphones to listen to Eleanor and Park while I worked. Now the house is clean and I enjoyed a good book. Balance!
Cathy
So hard to figure out that balance! I spent the day working on my mom's house, and now I'm feeling like I'm not really ready for school next weekend (not to mention that I seriously need to do housework!)
ReplyDelete