Don’t Be Fooled By The Calendar

This morning a very interesting piece about how we make use of our time came across my radar. It ended with a quote by Charles Richards:

"Don't be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of. One person gets only a week's value out of a year while another person gets a full year's value out of a week."

That quote made me really stop and think about how I use my time. Three years retired now, all my time is mine to manage, as opposed to when I was teaching and my days were spelled out for me. If you truly believe, such as I do, that we are all put on this earth and given special gifts to use to help others, having all your time to manage is a daunting responsibility. After reading about time management, it causes me to pause and ask myself questions about what I do all day. When I was teaching, this is a question I never had to ponder. I had a gift and I was out there in the trenches everyday using it to the best of my ability to change lives.

As I sit and ponder, the question becomes who, when, and how am I helping today? Let's see….

1. Last night at 10pm my daughter, in another state, experienced iPhone failure. Only Mom could help. I was on a conference call with her and Apple until almost 11. We did solve the problem, but created another by having Apple put a $600 hold on my checking account until they receive her old phone back in the mail. I didn't realize that meant they would actually charge the card. Hence – my new problem of the day to tackle. Immediately unending $38 overdraft charges started flying through my mind at 7am. Fear and tears were on the horizon. What to do?

First, be still. Pray. Ask God to show me what to do. Be still some more while waiting for the answers.

My answers to today's life challenge:

By first becoming still, instead of upset and mad, I saw some choices:

First I unburdened my fears of The Overdraft Monster to my husband. Even though he's not here and can't fix it, I like it that he's upset because I'm upset.

Next, call my daughter and let her know time is of the essence in mailing that phone back. (Stop for coffee after you do it)

Third, really try to get the money back. Call Apple and try to cancel the order and send my daughter to the nearest Apple store for a new phone. If that's not possible, get to the bank and have a hold put on my account so I won't rack up millions in overdraft charges by Monday. (The soonest she can mail it back)

Then, just to be sure, ask payees not to cash my checks until next week. (My dear sister agreed to hold onto the rent check)

2. The next thing I'm doing today is writing this blog in hope that some of the ways I handle, analyze, and solve life's issues will help and encourage someone else. Years of teaching young children has taught me volumes about myself and constantly kept me practicing patience and detachment with love. Two life skills that go a long way to making you effective and keeping you sane. I learned not to carry each child's life on my shoulders and take on the responsibility for fixing them. I learned to be a strong rock for them; providing a safe place for them to make their own mistakes and learn to take care of themselves in this life. (In hindsight, sending my daughter to the Apple store first would've been the better choice)

3. I write children's picture books and try to get them published so more children can benefit from what both my students and I have learned over the years. I have much work to do on these today.

There's more that I do, but I guess the most important thing is to look for a common thread that ties my daily activities together:

I simply try to help someone else have a little easier road.

I helped my daughter, solved my bank issues, wrote this blog, and it's only 10 am and I feel like I put in a day's work already. Does this mean I'm getting a year's worth out of my week? I hope so because I've got query letters to work on, yoga to attend to keep me sane and moving, and tonight I'm supposed to be in two places at the same time.

And so, as another day goes by, as long as what I do all day betters someone else's life as well as my own, I guess there's no need to ponder time management – just getting out there and doing it is enough, and…I have written.

Be nice...please share.

Pinterest

Twitter

Email

Facebook