What if the one thing I won’t give up is the one thing that holds me back?
Archive Page 2
I’ve been thinking about the subject of time lately, and I’ve come to my own conclusion about it. Actually, there are three conclusions that I believe to be fairly accurate. See what you think.
There are three things that we can do with our time. None of them are necessarily wrong, but two of them are a better use of time than the other one.
The first thing we can do with time: Waste it. Most of us are pretty darn good at this. It seems we come into this world with the ability to waste time. We all have different ideas of what we would call “wasting time”, but for me here are a few: Playing video games, watching tv, surfing the Net mindlessly, sleep for long periods of time (I’m not referring to the sleep you need at night), daydream, and so on and on. Wasting time is not always wrong or bad. We need times where we simply veg out and give our minds, and bodies, a break. However, I think you’d agree most of us have made this into an art form, especially in our American culture.
The second thing we can do with time: Spend it. Now this one can be somewhat similar to wasting time. In fact, most of us probably feel as if we are spending time as opposed to wasting it. So what is the difference? Well, I truly believe that if you spend time, you are doing something worthwhile, but maybe not the most worthwhile thing you can be doing. You can spend time with someone by just being in the same room with them. You can spend time watching a movie at the theater. Most of us would agree that we are spending time, and not wasting it, if we are doing something that is not a bad choice, would help us, gives us an opportunity to be with someone, or something along those lines.
The third, and most important, thing we can do with time: Invest it. You don’t hear a lot of people talk about investing time. They usually refer to it as spending time. I think there is a huge difference. Investing time can refer to doing things that don’t necessarily benefit you. Volunteering to help others is an example. You’re investing in someone else, and not only does that benefit them, you’ll reap a reward also. When you’re with your significant other, are you spending time with them or investing time with them? You can spend time by simply laying on the couch watching a TV show. You can invest time with them by talking to them, asking them what their dreams are, how they feel about something, how you can be a better spouse/friend to them. When you do something that will bring you benefits later, you are investing your time. If you exercise, you’re not spending time, you’re investing time in your health and longevity. If you study for a test or exam, you’re not wasting or spending time, but investing in that time so you’ll do well on the test and in that class. When you research a topic to gain more knowledge and wisdom, that’s investing time. Sleeping can be a great investment of time. Don’t believe me? Ask an insomniac!
The next time you catch yourself doing something, ask yourself what you’re doing with your time. No matter who you are, you only have 24 hours in a day. No matter who you are, you’re only appointed a certain amount of time on this earth. Make sure you’re being the best steward of time that you can be.
Our time and money are very similar to each other, and we probably do about the same with both a lot of the time. In my next blog I’ll write about the three things we do with money. Until then, be well y’all.
Just thought I’d throw a few things out on this lovely Thursday afternoon.
1. Checked tarheelblue.com to look for UNC football tickets. I didn’t realize they had gone on sale already. Dang! VT, ND, and NCSU games already sold out. Sucks.
2. I go tomorrow to get my CPAP for sleep apnea. I can’t wait! Hopefully sleep will be better and I’ll be much more rested.
3. I’m digging Bryan’s blogs. Check ‘em out.
4. My buddy Matt from Boston has been down this week. Good times. For the record, this homeboy moved from Wilmington to Boston. ???!!! Huh? I honestly think he’s the only person I know to move from the Glorious South to somewhere up north. I mean really up north, not Raleigh. Whatever floats your boat.
5. Saw Hancock on Tuesday. Slightly disappointed. It was ok, but a very thin plot makes a somewhat boring movie.
6. Had planned to go to Hard Rock Park on Tuesday, but I read sooooo many negative reviews that I changed my mind. We played putt-putt and window-shopped instead.
Alright, I’m having to fish for stuff to write, so that’s the clue to stop. Y’all be well.
5.
So it’s Saturday, and the clock keeps moving forward but I keep sitting still. There’s so much to be done around the house, and I know it, and I know when the day is through I’ll regret having not accomplished as much as I would have liked. Regret is the wrong word here. I believe a more appropriate expression would be “highly irritated.” Now, the question I have to ask myself is this: “If you KNOW that you have a ton of things to do, and you KNOW by not doing them you’re going to bring stress, anger, tension, (and a bunch of other things probably), into your life, why not just get up and get things done?” Good question. Bad answers. The Internet is calling me. Oh wait, I’ve got to check email. This TV show, let me see what happens. I’m sleepy, I’ll just take a 15 minute nap. The dogs need to be played with. Did I mention I haven’t checked my Facebook or Myspace accounts in the last 30 minutes? Yep, those are the answers I usually come up with.
Life is a lot like, well, the above life. The only difference is this. Some of these things that I just gotta get done really can wait. No one will die, nothing will stop working, no one other than me and my wife will know that they didn’t get checked off the list. However, there are some things that I cannot afford to wait to do. Have I done something to show my wife how valued she is and how much I love her? Have I reached out to others in my life that may need to know someone cares? Have I cracked open a Bible lately to see what God’s word is speaking to me? Most importantly, have I talked to God and allowed him to talk to me? Ouch. I don’t like the way that last one feels.
This life is so fast-paced and everyone is so busy. This techno-crazy world we live in almost drives you to do more, be more, go more without ever slowing down. The truth of it is though, we need to slow down so much more than we do. The sadder truth is, I don’t think many of us know how to. Slow down doesn’t just mean we get the recommended 8 hours of sleep. Slow down doesn’t mean a vacation for a week every year. Slow down doesn’t mean sit back on the porch and watch the sunset fade into grey.
I believe slow down means retreat. Retreat from what you might ask. Everything, anything, that might cause us to become so hurried and out of sorts that we forget what we’re here on this earth for. The very reason we’re created, first and foremost, is to communicate with, have relationship with, the very Creator of the universe. We usually communicate with everything in the universe except for the Maker of it, and He’s the One who matters. The other stuff is irrelevant if we can’t get the first thing right.
I challenge you to stop and take time to find out what’s on God’s mind. Do whatever it takes to retreat and slow down and see what He wants to share with you. He’ll do it, you just gotta give him the opportunity.
I wonder if God will talk to me while I fold laundry? I guess we’ll find out. (By the way, if He won’t, maybe the laundry just needs to wait).
Y’all be well.
“The man who complains about the way the ball bounces is likely the one who dropped it.” Lou Holtz
Ever find yourself complaining about something? Is it something you can change? If so, stop complaining and change it. If you can’t change it, stop complaining, because you can’t change it. The best way for us to do this is “With a little less talk and a lot more action.” Toby Keith
Your words will either pick someone up or drive them down. They will either encourage or discourage someone. Words either cut like a knife or heal like a balm. What if the person you drive down, discourage and cut like a knife is…YOU! We have no true way to measure how much of what we say hurts or hinders us…but I can guarantee it’s way more than we have ever believed.
Let your example be that you put words into actions and your actions speak for themselves.
Y’all be well.
“Character is not made in a crisis-it is only exhibited.” Robert Freeman
“When you make a mistake, there are only three things you should ever do about it: 1. Admit it. 2. Learn from it. 3. Don’t repeat it.” Paul “Bear” Bryant
Pretty good words of advice from a pretty good coach.
“Show me a thoroughly satisfied man, and I will show you a failure.” Thomas Edison
Ouch. That one could hurt a bit.
Many years ago I would sent out a qoute of the day through email. I thought it would be cool to revisit this old ritual and start it up again. I won’t guarantee to do one everyday, but I’ll do my best. Here’s today’s:
“You’ve got to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction.” George Horace Lorimer
Lorimer, in a nutshell, was the editor-in-chief of The Saturday Evening Post from 1899-1937. While serving in this capacity he changed the focus of the magazine to American business, from the smallest-scale farmer to the wealthiest businessman. Many of his articles were devoted to men who were self-made; in other words, men who got up with determination so that they could go to bed with satisfaction.
If you’re going to fulfull your purpose in anything you do, you must have a plan and you must carry out that plan. To quote another popular quote, “Failing to plan is planning to fail.” After you make your plans it must be determination that carries out that plan. Be determined in everything you do so that you end up satisfied with your hard word.
Y’all be well.
If any of you were planning on going downtown Friday night to see Will Hoge, you probably figured out that the weather had other plans. Oh well, what can you do? He’ll probably be back in town in the fall, so maybe you can catch him there.
If you weren’t going to go, then I guess the weather didn’t affect you did it now?
Alright, y’all be well.
Recent Comments