How do you use your time?

This has been an unusually busy week for me. I've spent time at work, I was video taped for a public service announcement for the American Cancer Society, I've trained for a Making Strides walk this weekend, I took my daughter to dinner last night, I've cleaned house, I've run errands, I'm at the library blogging, and I almost forgot ... earlier today I mended an injured decorative pillow for my couch.

 

Time is something that flies by too quickly, as well as being a commodity that I seem to run short on. If I could only figure out how to add an extra hour or two to my day or better yet, make time stand still or at least slow down I'd be a happy camper. Somehow I don't think any of these options are likely.

 

How do you fill your time? Time isn't just the hours and seconds that fill up our days - it's the area of our lives where we try to fit in as much as we can. On any given day we'll try to carve out some 'work time', some 'play time', some 'family time', some 'quiet time', perhaps some 'nap  time', a 'meal time', some 'relaxation time', some 'exercise time', a little 'me time', some 'God time', and hopefully some 'quality time'.

 

No matter what you're doing it's important to be on time and hopefully not a waste of time. It's also important to create a balance. No matter how we attempt to allocate our time we're always going to run short. So, what do we do to get the most out of our time? We set priorities and we make choices. Sometimes we may need to give up a little time in one area of our lives to make room for something else we feel is more important. The priorities and choices will undoubtedly change on a daily basis and that's o.k. We can't possibly do it all. For me it's hard to give up my lists. Sometimes I'm so busy I find out that I'm human ... imagine that. I find out that I don't have a flashy red & blue super hero costume in my closet with a shiny golden belt. Guess my bubble has now burst. I'm not Wonder Woman. Some days I look around and see what's been put on my plate for the day and I realize something is going to have give. The house may not get cleaned for a few days or I may not have time to run for groceries after work so we change our priorities and I pick up a carryout pizza. Guess what? When that happens the world does not stop rotating and lightning does not strike. The only thing that changes is my priorities. Isn't it amazing that while we don't have the ability to stop or slow down time, we do have the power to make of it what we choose.

 

How do you manage to budget your time? Better yet, if you had an extra hour in your day or even your week ... what would you do with it?

Find Your Voice

Do you ever feel like you're talking, but no one is listening? Like your voice is going unheard or is getting lost in the chaos? You're not alone. Life these days seems to be busier than ever. I'm not sure exactly why, but everything seems to be happening all at once and at a frantic pace. If you're like me you probably wish you could slow it down, but that's clearly not our reality.

My life has been a bit crazy lately. I've been working at my job, working at home, trying to help other people out when I can, writing on this blog, and because I have absolutely nothing else going on in my life (this is where it's o.k. for you to laugh without hurting my feelings) I've signed up to walk in my 2nd Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk in early October. But did I stop there? Oh no! That would be too easy. I've accepted a volunteer position as a 'Voice of Hope' for the American Cancer Society. I was chosen to help represent the Making Strides campaign by speaking at some upcoming events to create awareness.

As a cancer survivor I am both honored and humbled. I'm not alone in the number of people who have been diagnosed with cancer, or even survived. But I do have a passion for spreading encouragement and awareness. I had a unique story with my diagnosis and feel I have a message to share. So it's important that I grasp this opportunity for my voice to be heard.

No matter what YOUR story is or what message YOU have to share you have a responsibility to share it and be heard. Embrace the opportunities that present themselves. I don't think they just happen by chance. I've never let cancer define me. I didn't let it take something from me, but I did take something from the experience. I found strength, I found courage, I found a purpose, and I found my voice.

Be strong. Speak out and let your voice be heard. I can't wait to hear what YOUR message is.