Time

 Savoring simple everyday pleasures 

Time, something we all use every single day- probably even refer to it most days at some point, and something most of us could use just a little more of. 

Time is a precious commodity. I was pondering this on one of my walks earlier this week; for so many of us each day is scheduled with have to's, and even if those have to's are things we enjoy or that fulfil us- a job we love, our children, our exercise regimen, ensuring we call it a night at a reasonable time to try and clock those precious hours of sleep we individually require. Whatever the make up or combination of those 24 hours, most of us would gladly enjoy a few extra, in order to fit in things we'd like to do, mean to do or aspire to do. 

“Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.”– Bil Keane

Its a very real challenge to prioritize this commodity of time. We all get frustrated with 'wasted time', or feel rewarded with 'time well spent' because one thing is for certain- 

We cannot replace time that has past or purchase more of it.

This thought started me down a, not unpleasant, rabbit hole of thinking about how to spend our time more intentionally and wisely. 

What tasks in my life can be outsourced? The cleaning, the cooking, admin, perhaps errands or chores that can be doubled up on, or an entirely different structure to my days to allow space- time- to incorporate more of what I wish to be spending my time on?

The perfect example of this is my writing: I so deeply want to feel unrushed and when I sit down at my laptop, rejoice in the delicious abundance of hours ahead of me- but rarely, if ever, is this the case. I snatch 20 minutes here, an hour there, in order to partake and engage in one of my greatest desires and wishes. To write, unhurried, unhindered and uninterrupted.  Usually several days go by at a time where there simply aren't enough hours in the day.

 How can we re think this? How can I rejuggle my thoughts, priorities and commitments to allow this space - this time, to flourish and nurture my creativity and to follow my dream? 

With my magic wand, the extra hours created would mean I could start each day at dawn with lemon water and quiet meditation (Something I very rarely get or make time to do)

They would be used to enjoy a long walk (one day with a pup of my very own) early every single morning, including those where I might run or workout too, because I wouldn't be rushed. 

I'd have time to pause everyday in the afternoon to have a quiet 20 minutes with a pot of tea and a book- curled up by a crackling fire, sitting in a sunny nook, in a breezy shady spot to escape the heat, or cozied up on the sofa with the rain pouring. 

I'd enjoy reading a few books per week, not a month. I'd read a boarder variety of subjects and topics- including more non fiction. 

Id learn a new language- with a good grasp of French and a smattering of Spanish I've always fancied trying my hand at Italian...

I'd have time each week for two or three gentle, restorative, yet strengthening and challenging yoga sessions. 

I wouldn't need to blast round for a power hour of cleaning as I'd have time to do a thorough job, once. 

The revelations that came to me during these ponderings were -

1. Its very apparent that in order to recharge and be the best version of myself (and to show up as that person for my family and friends each day,) I deeply desire- indeed require, alone time. Time with my thoughts, time in nature, and time to feed my mind and curiosities. Space. 

And

2. I need to reevaluate my options sans magic want to try and make these 24 hours, or more precisely 168 hours of my weeks, work better for me- towards my goals, my needs, dreams and desires- and the remaining roughly 290,000 hours I potentially have left on this Earth...... 

If that doesn't spur you into action to look at how you spend your time - I'm not sure what will. 

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”– J. R. R. Tolkien