I Have an Advantage

“The key is in not spending time, but in investing it.”

Stephen R. Covey

“It’s not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about?”

Henry David Thoreau

“The time for action is now. It’s never too late to do something.”

Carl Sandburg

I have an advantage.  My time opened up in a way I didn’t expect and so I can write now instead of tonight when I’m tired and falling asleep while trying to write.  This feels good.  This advantage came to me partly through luck and partly because I used my time well today.  I got my radio show and other tasks done early in the day so I wouldn’t have to think about them tonight.  I could have saved them for tonight, but now, once I get this blog done, I can concentrate on other goals.  Or maybe I can watch a movie, or have a bowl of popcorn and read some comic books.

If all of this sounds mundane, perhaps it is, but this is one of the secrets of time management that allows me to move toward my purpose:

The sooner I get things done, the more I can get done.

Today I was able to read a book (a small book – Epic by John Eldredge), clean more things out of my garage, write a blog, do a radio show, talk to some friends, put some things on eBay, take a walk, and spend time with one of my daughters.  I don’t want to leave the impression that all I do is work; I also read some comic books and played some online games.  It was a pretty relaxing day.  What made it so relaxing was that I worked towards my goals.  If all I had done was read comics and play games, I’d be pretty tense right now.

One never knows what might happen, so I find it best to get my work done as quickly as possible.  Right now I have time to write.  Perhaps in a few minutes I will want to do something else.  So I should use this time wisely.  Soon I will be done with another blog.  Tomorrow when I wake up, I will write another one.  I‘ll keep writing until I reach my goal.  Then I‘ll set a new goal. 

That’s all there is. I’ll keep working and keep setting goals until I’m living the life I’m supposed to be living.   How do I know what life I’m supposed to be living?  Isn’t that presumptuous?    Perhaps it is.  And maybe I don’t know, but I’ll assume it’s the life I want to live in my deepest heart.  I’ll assume it’s the life that involves my Muse and me living in my house on the beach.  I’ll assume that it’s the life where I can love and serve others through my writing and other gifts.  I think the life we’re all supposed to be living is the one that allows us to love, to serve, and to use the gifts we’ve been given.  I think the life we’re supposed to be living is also one that allows us to be loved and served and enjoy the benefits of other people’s gifts and abilities.  Finally, I think the life we’re supposed to be living is one that allows us to love and be loved by God and enjoy the blessings He has given us.

So that’s what I’m doing.  I’m taking advantage of my time, my gifts and my blessing.  I’m using the time to Get Started and Keep Going.