Do You Have Time?

Do you have time for the life you've created?

It's a question, that I remember my mom asking me when I was in my 20's.  That was before I met my husband, and before I had my kids.  It was before I lived in a house that needs cleaned regularly, not to mention the maintenance.  Then, I was working and had an active social life.   I wasn't acting crazy or anything, I think she was just wanting to pass along some wisdom.

It was a reminder that there are 24 hours a day.  How many years... give or take.  That it was important to take the time to enjoy it all.

I've thought of it from time to time through the years, and I've tried to keep it as a guiding thought when making many day to day decisions.

Today, I just returned two books to the store.  If you saw the room I am sitting in you'd understand.  The den has over a thousand books alone.  Most, either my husband or I have read, but I know there are still some to go.  Given that I am reading three right now, I think I'm good for a bit.  I know there will come a time when I will get the books again; they were Dickens' afterall.  Just right now, I have no room, or time.

I read a post by Arianna Huffington, that was about her interview with the Dalai Lama.  Before it began, she was conversing with Canon Mark Oakley.   She relayed what he said, "The Canon summed up the vicious circle we too often find ourselves caught in: 'We are spending money we don't have on things we don't want in order to impress people we don't like.'"

Wow.  There's another good guiding question.  Do we make choices based on what we want or because of what we think people will think, should they us with whatever, doing whatever?  Surely I,  could not be that shallow.  Putting it a little less harshly, don't we all succumb to peer pressure from time to time?  Mmm, maybe.  Possibly.  Most likely.  Probably.  Yes.

I think at times, it has reached a degree of sheer nuttiness, never seen before.

There is rarely a 40 hour work week anymore.  There's often travel with those jobs.  Does, anyone get 8 hours of sleep regularly anymore?  Past the age of 22?  If you have kids, the activities, and outings grow exponentially with each addition to the family. 


So,  at the end of the day, regardless of what we choose to make up our full, rich, lives; may we look back at it all and smile and know it was worth the time.