We have a complicated relationship to time.
We are motivated to achieve. Whether it is the way we were brought up, or something inherent in our personalities, what we accomplish is important to who we are. We are people who get things done, and managing time is an essential part of how we do that. We hope to use our time effectively, squeezing the most out of each day.
At the same time, we are motivated to find meaning. We want to be sure that we live and spend our time in ways that make the greatest difference. We want to contemplate the deep truths of life, and celebrate our truest selves. We want to know that, when our time comes, we will have spent it wisely. We want to be able to take out time, savoring each moment.
We struggle with regrets about what we have done in the past and anxiety about what the future might bring.
Some of us focus on time by trying to make the most of smaller and smaller pieces of it. Some of us focus on time by forgetting its constraints, living in the present.
The focus for me each day is to find the balance that encompasses both ends of the spectrum.
I spend my time becoming a contemplative activist, a strategic monk.
For me, it is important to be both effective and meaningful, to be true to myself and get things done. Each day is a challenge and an experiment, a learning opportunity that teaches valuable lessons. I am following a long path, with many good examples.
The important thing is that we take our time.
How do you relate to your time?
What lessons does your time today hold for you?
[Image by Alan Cleaver]
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