Time, where did you go?

You know, when I was turning 16 years old – I couldn’t wait until I was 18.  On my 16^th birthday, I was working at my part time job at a jewellery store in Fairview Mall.  Mrs. Stewart worked in the handbag section.  She was an old Scottish woman with a thick Scottish accent who always smelled like cigarettes and perfume (yeah, not pleasant).  That day, I was telling her how I wished this birthday was my 18^th instead of my 16^th and she told me something I have never forgotten to this day.  She said ‘dear, don’t wish your life away.  As you get older time passes far too quickly.  Weeks fly by and soon the month is over.  Relish this time of youth when time is still a forgiving friend’.  

 The past couple of weeks have been a little hectic for me…Can you relate? If only I had time, I would have my desk in order, my email folders set up, my projects prioritized, my meetings arranged, my phone calls answered, my workouts all done, my vacations set, my binders organized, my questions asked and answered, my daily tasks accomplished, my kids colds cured, my friends taken care of, my work done, my life in balance, my house in order, my problem pile finished, my website fixed, my legs shaved, and my mind all clear by bedtime, if there’s even time for sleep! **PHEW**

 When I hear myself saying ‘there’s not enough time in the day’ it’s a good indicator I need to stop; I need to breathe; I need to wait to feel the calm that comes from focus.  I remind myself everything will get done, when it gets done.  The world won’t end, the sun won’t stop shining and the earth won’t stop turning if my list of ‘stuff’ doesn’t all get accomplished in the time I’ve put aside for it.  I need to take my list of ‘stuff’ and reprioritize it and mostly, I need to take some time for me – because I’m certainly never on that ‘list of things to do’!

 So, the bad news is time flies. But the good news is you’re the pilot.