Your time – more precious than gold
Many of us lead busy lives. We feel like there is so much to do, and consequently it’s easy to believe that there just isn’t enough time for us to do all the things we’d like to do, or need to do. The hard reality is that everybody has the same amount of time—24 hours a day. That’s 1,440 minutes, or 86,400 seconds every day. Some use this time to accomplish great things, while others just drift along and at the end of the day, they haven’t achieved anything except marking another X on their calendar. It’s not necessarily a question of being extremely organized (although that could help), nor is it a question of talent (although that doesn’t hurt, either).
Time is a gift – what will you do with it?
It is, however, important to recognize that time is a gift. For better or for worse, yesterday is a done deal, and none of us are guaranteed tomorrow—all we’ve got available is today. Consequently, we must ask ourselves: What will we do with the time we’ve been allotted? Will we fill our time with worthwhile pursuits, or will we fritter it away? Time is a valuable gift. And how we spend it makes all the difference in the world.
Do we sit down from time to time and ask ourselves if we are spending our time wisely? Whether we spend it wisely or not, it is gone forever. There is no recourse for getting back lost time. Are we spending our time on worthwhile or frivolous things? Will we have regrets at the end of the day, wishing we had done something else? When we reach the end of our lives, however long we have on this earth, will we have left this world a better place, or will we look back and say, “I wish I hadn’t spent so much time on ________”?
Of course, this question hinges on what we mean by “worthwhile.” How do you determine what is “worthwhile”? I believe an excellent way to frame the issue is to ask ourselves the following questions:
What is your treasure?
What gives my life meaning?
What do you truly treasure? Think of time as an investment—how do you invest your time? That which gives your life meaning is where you will spend your time, and it is by your time investment that other people will be able to determine what your “treasure” is. Outside of customary obligations (work, school, etc.), you will spend more time with your “treasure” than with anything else. For example, given a choice between spending time with your family and spending time at the golf course, what would you choose? Where is your treasure?
Is my focus inward or outward?
Is your time spent on “me, mine” and other selfish pursuits? Or is it spent in serving others, being a blessing to them, influencing them for the better, having a positive impact on them? Are your actions centered around building yourself up, or edifying others? Do you find plenty of time to veg out in front of the TV, but somehow you can’t set aside any time to help someone else? It doesn’t have to a big, sacrificial task—something simple, like a smile or kind word or even a note of encouragement, can brighten another person’s day.
How often do you take time out for personal growth and development?
Am I taken up by mindless escapism, or do I seek to improve myself?
Do you let your mind and soul feast on intellectual and spiritual junk food, or do you spend your time pursuing enrichment through personal growth and development? Which will make an impression on your life: some forgettable pulp fiction, or timeless literature? At the end of the day, will you really be a better person for having played Candy Crush and Farmville for hours on end?
We only have so much time available to us, no more and no less. Time cannot be saved or hoarded, only spent—the chief question is how: Will we spend it wisely, or squander it? If you want to leave a legacy that will last long after you’re gone, then, seek to make every minute count. Invest your time in that which is worthwhile, and make the most of it.
