A new school year begins for my daughter this week. Fourth grade. We all wonder, "Where did the time go?" We should, however, be asking ourselves, "Have we been spending our time wisely?"
Far too often I hear people say "I just don't have time." Yes, you do. Honestly, time is all that we do have. It's all about how we spend it, and yes, how we choose to spend it.
Are you wasting your time? If you find yourself complaining about being "too busy" - perhaps it's time to implement change. If you don't think you have any control, then you need to realize that you do have a choice and embrace it.
Most of us with full calendars are overwhelmed because we have difficulty saying that small-but-seemingly-huge word NO. We need to be honest that we cannot do it all. Even if we want to. There is no weakness to admitting that we can't be there for everyone or manage every aspect. Weakness is shown, however, when we run behind or forget something because we are in fact too weak to say no.
The past few weeks, I have let myself worry and lose sleep trying to make all Hope's activities this Fall work together... to fit into a schedule. Reality check: I can't. Classes, practices, rehearsals are all out of my control. It makes me sad that Hope will have to say "no" to a couple of her favorite things this school year. Yet, I also realize this will give her training and knowledge that she can't "do it all" either.
Eventually, we are forced to say no at some point. We then need to make sure we decline the appropriate things so that we can stay true to ourselves. "Do what you like, like what you do" (Live is good motto: www.lifeisgood.com). Life with less regrets. It is our time, and "should have, could have" is a waste of it.
Change your schedule - change that automatic reaction of over-committing and trying to please everyone but yourself. When you do that, you can change from being "too busy" to simply already having plans... which is a far better feeling and much more positive attitude.
I'm looking at this week, looking toward my family's new school-year schedule. While it's not set yet, I know that changes will pop up that I cannot control. It's okay - I can make adjustments that work for me and work for us. I do not have to do it all - but I can choose the possibilities and do what I can.
