Time

It is one of the difficult tasks of our time - to take time, but how rewarding! Imagine sitting with a friend and having a conversation without anything else to do. Imagine sleeping so long that you aren't tired anymore. Imagine that nothing - really nothing - is better or more important that taking time to appreciate and enjoy life by having time.

Our culture does not endorse this behavior. Vacation in our country starts at one week after your first year, in other countries, you start with 4-5 weeks and work your way up. When you are sick in this country, you are expected to keep your illness to yourself and still show up to do your work. In other countries, doctors forbid you to go to work. Our how culture is built around striving, struggling, more, more, more, but what if we choose less?

Minimalism has never been my thing, but less is sometimes more, especially when it comes to time. When it comes time to choose between a new gadget and spending time with your child - which is more important? When it comes time to choose between more stuff and a life richer in intimacy, friends, sharing, personal growth and human spirit - which are you going to choose?

It's a given - but time isn't a given, not in today's culture. In today's world you have to carve time out for the things you value and you have to consciously do it because otherwise there is a wide world of gadgets, equipment, electronics, stuff that is made to seem more important. Time is too precious to wake up 20 years later and recognize that you missed the things that are really important to you.

Today's thought to ponder is - what can you do without, in order to create time for people and things in your life that make life worth living.

Blessings.
- Darshan

© 2009 Darshan F Jessop