Do you wish you could better define your time?

How is it possible that it can feel like life is going by slowly and quickly at the same time? Time is a hot commodity. It can be the thing that we need more of in order to find a solution or a cure. It's the thing we need to use wisely in order to get our projects done and be able to meet our deadlines. It's the balance we need to find between working, stressing, and relaxing. It's the thing we often need to remind ourselves to take more of for ourselves. 

In a world where people seek instant gratification and being able to get anything at the click of a mouse and a solid Internet ... ultimately time is the one thing we cannot buy.

There are days when we'd like to slow time down; like when watching our children grow up. There are moments when we wish time would stand still; watching them sleep peacefully in their crib and not having any worries.

Then there are the days when we wish time would travel a little faster; usually when we're waiting on a test result or getting a decision back on something we've been waiting for.

What would you do if you knew exactly how much time you had? Would the amount of time you have change how you live your life? Would it affect the choices and decisions you make?

What would you do if you could acquire more time? Would you finally finish something you've been putting off for 'some day'?

What if we worried less about living for tomorrow and started living more for today? What if we procrastinated less and re-prioritized our lives more so that the amount of time we actually have wouldn't dictate to us what to do and when? What if we started living each day as if it were our last and we had fewer regrets?

What do you wish you could move to the top of your list? 

What would make you feel more fulfilled?

Challenge Accepted

For those of you who know me well, you know I live by my To Do lists. I like to think that I control the list, but often I think the list controls me. I don't think that the list necessarily defines me, but it does carry a certain amount of power in what my stress level and attitude will be for any given day. Ironically, it is me who writes the list - so wouldn't that mean that 'I' have the power to alter the list? Wouldn't I have the power to lessen how long the list is if it begins to overwhelm me? Wouldn't I have the power to decide if something is actually important enough to be list-worthy?

 

So why do I (or anyone else for that fact) feel the need to write lists?

• Is it because I'm forgetful? Not too often.
• Is it because I want the satisfaction of seeing things crossed off the list in order to feel accomplished? Maybe.
• Is it because I'm OCD? Not really, although I suppose that depends on who you ask.
• Is it because I like things done a certain way or by a certain deadline? Most definitely!

Bottom line ... I suppose I create the issue that sometimes stresses me out. The world is a busy, busy place. We all have LOTS of responsibilities and just not enough hours in the day. Often we write our lists in the morning in order to better schedule our day and our time. In the morning the list may seem very doable and very realistic. I think I'm doing myself a favor to help keep myself on track and away from stress, but then 'life' happens. A child gets sick, your car gets a flat tire, you get stuck in traffic getting from point A to point B. Suddenly your well-defined list gets put on the back burner because you have enough sense to know that sudden life obstacles come first. My priorities are clear, but my willingness to let go of the list sometimes becomes a separate issue.

 

So here is my challenge for me (and for you); let go of the list for 1 whole day. See what happens. I'll bet the world will not self-destruct. Worse case scenario is that tomorrow's list is a bit longer and needs a little tweaking. Perhaps on that 2nd day we need to take just a moment and see what can actually come off of the list.

 

I'll accept the challenge. Will you?