The last two weeks have caused a great upheaval in my daily routine. With Bri sick I missed a lot of work and even on the days when I went to work, I left as soon as possible to come home to her. During this topsy turvy time, I’ve realized that my most valuable (non-renewable) resource is my time. One dollar is equal to any other dollar but some minutes are worth far more than others. I want to be careful how I spend my time.
A few years ago my ambitions kept me running from one obligation to the next. I like to read my planner from 2005 because it’s so full that it’s almost like reading a journal. Like my youth pastor once said, “I can read but I can’t remember so I write things down.”
Nowadays I find myself trying to slow down. There are plenty of obligations that I could take on but they sound so burdensome to me. I want my afternoons free for walks in the park and ice cream dates with Hubs. I want to have time to push Bri in the swing and let Lilly chase a ball around the yard. Life tastes so much better when there’s time to stop and enjoy it. The same youth pastor was also fond of saying, “Beware the barrenness of a busy life.” As a teenager I never understood that quote. Time seemed endless back then. But as an adult that has become my new outlook on life.
How about you? Do you crave free time? Maybe I’m just suffering from autumn burn-out. Wouldn’t be the first time for me.
Filed under: more than you wanted to know, seriously, silly me
I think we all tend to feel this now and then. The older the children get, the less free time there is, but that becomes normal…You learn to pick and choose what to do, rather than doing it all. Some people don’t understand how you can say no to them, but you have to do it anyway.
I totally feel what you are saying. I savor every. single. moment. that is a free one! They are the most important. I think twice about saying to my clients “Oh, it’s no problem for me to meet you at night.” I can not do that any more because if I am meeting a client at night then that means my husband and son are home with out me… probably needing me or wanting me there. Time is so precious these days. Sooooo precious! I laugh when I think back to the days that I allowed brides to meet with me on Sunday. I wouldn’t do that to save my life now. I think being a wife and mother just puts things in to perspective. You are needed a lot more than in the old days and you WANT to be with your family.
I crave time with my family. Robbie works a lot so it doesn’t happen as often as I would like. I find that people are so busy these days that I’m surprised they find the time to breathe. My family comes first and I will say no to other things if it means that I’m not going to have time with them. This time is so precious and it goes by so fast. I don’t want to look back in ten years and grieve because I was too busy to spend time with my kids.
I definitely crave time with my hubby and kids. It seems like we are just so busy and that there is no end in sight. I don’t even think I’m saying yes very much to outside things. Sigh.