So what’s your most valuable asset?
I’ll save you the time of trying to think about it.
Why?
Because the answer is your most valuable asset — TIME!
To paraphrase a Pink Floyd line (from the song, “Time” of course), after today, guess what? You’re one day closer to death!
That’s just the deal, right?
Your time here is finite. And precious.
Because of this, you’d be wise to take a good, hard look at how you spend your most valuable asset.
Do you spend it waiting for “some day” to make a change?
Do you waste it by spending your time with toxic people?
Do you spend it surrounded by clutter?
Do you fritter it away to consume lots of information that adds no value to your life (Facebook, Internet, TV, etc.)?
My point here is not about time management.
It’s about honoring your time by choosing a clear direction for your life.
Focusing on your destination.
And leaving the baggage behind.
Yeah, but ain’t it hard leaving valuable baggage behind… I’d love to break free and play a different game with my time but… but I’m having fun working towards my goals too. What I’m learning is that I give up my expectations working towards my goals will be even more fun. One day I’ll break free and do something completely creative, or nothing at all, and I’m looking forward to that, but in the meantime all that baggage is still teaching me stuff I feel I need to know. Or am I just kidding myself?
@Beverley: Beverley — so you’re arguing FOR your baggage? anytime I read that many “buts” in a row, my antennae go up. In short, I believe the answer to your question is likely this:
More than you know.
Thanks for your sharing. It is appreciated!
Great thoughts, Drew.
While I was counting the hours while encapsulated on a submarine for most of the 80’s, I was often reminded of the John Lennon song where he states that “Life is what happen to you while you’re busy making other plans.” How true. and how often does one actually catch the carrot? Life is finite, indeed.
More and more money is printed every day, yet most are consumed with spending all their time in it’s pursuit. Time is gone with each passing second, never to be repeated or replaced. I believe as we age, that becomes clearer and clearer. As I witness the passing of the generation before us, our parents, in-laws and family members, I feel joy for those who lived life to the fullest and sorrow for those who worked like dogs until the day they die.
I am not a dog.
tc
@Ted: Well said, Ted.
Yup, I know I’m kidding myself, and have known that for years. I think I’m stuck in the ‘I am what I do’ mode of life. This week I’m learning that I’m still expecting someone else to affirm me, and that ‘doing’ is the way to get that affirmation. Dollars would be nice, but my attachment to them is less than my attachment to approval. Ahh… my baggage revealed – another ‘insight day’ for me! My expectations undo me, keep me working hard begging for approval. All I need to do (and doesn’t this sound simple…) is to affirm myself and stop having expectations of others, life, etc.
@Beverley: Bravo for you Beverley for sharing yourself. Giving up the expectations of others and freeing ourselves from needing approval requires practice. The sooner you invest yourself in addressing this, the sooner you get to reap all the returns.
Time is finite. Interestingly as I approach my 50th birthday in less than a month – knowing that the ride is likely more than 1/2 over I have a less urgent feel about time. I expect this will ebb & flow; it surprises me, though.
There are moments where I feel the stress to get up another post on my website, tweak the parts that aren’t working as I would like, plan another-better-bigger-smarter lesson for my job as a school teacher and then, something takes over that is peaceful and reasonable that says, “there is tomorrow,” “everything will not be done today,” and, most certainly, “there is no perfect, you are on the move and this is good.”
I am not a procrastinator, there is little danger I will not get to “it”. There enough life deadlines without adding self-imposed deadlines – and I defend my right to a certain amount of frittering! (Just enough to know the rules but always be the biggest loser in any facebook game my friends are playing.)
I think I’ll have to write about this new sense of time. It will fit in my “ourselves” category at http://ImaginingBetter. com, but I may also treat it to some creative writing at http://CaitlynJames.com. In the meantime, I’ll be following what others have to say here.
As always, Drew, thought-provoking!