time

I've been trying to avoid using the word 'busy' for a while - I don't like the way being 'busy' has become such a competition. But it's an apt word for the past few weeks. The immediate work insanity has now passed (mostly), and it's time to reassess priorities once again.

I am grateful that I have 60 minutes every hour, 24 hours every day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year. What a gift! And how often I waste that gift. It's the same amount of time given to everyone, and isn't it amazing how differently people use it? Some people never have enough time, some have time on their hands. Some are cash rich and time poor, and some the other way around. And too often time seems to slip between your fingers, and the day is gone before you know it.

I think I've mentioned it before, but an artist friend once said to me (when I was complaining about not having time to paint or draw) that I have 8 hours to sleep, 8 hours to work, 4 hours to do all the things I *have* to, and that leaves 4 hours that I can choose to use in various ways.

So I'm going to try to focus on that pattern, and gift those four hours to myself - to draw, make music, to play with the children, to try new things. Imagine! Four hours, every single day! 4 x 365 = 1460 hours a year. That's 60 days! Two whole months every year to do the things that really matter to me!

It inspires me to see how much work I can achieve in an shorter work week (and being self-employed, I don't need to work set hours), so I can increase my 'free' time :)