"Time is the coin of your life. It is the only coin you have, and only you can determine how it will be spent. Be careful lest you let other people spend it for you." -Carl Sandburg, biographer & poet (1878 - 1967)
Time. The most precious coin. I am not "that" busy - compared to some of my colleagues and friends - and yet, there never seems to be enough time for everything I want to do.
Lately, I have been feeling an especially intense, gnawing, primal craving for more time, more time, just a little more time - time to finish that one project that is (still!) not quite finished, time to tie up
loose ends, time to flop onto my belly and rest.
I confessed to my sweetheart, recently, "I can't remember the last time I truly felt 'on top' of everything in my life. Maybe back when I was... eight?"
Maybe you can relate?
One thing I know for sure is that fretting about not having enough time does not magically create more of it. Haha! If only. There is no magical procedure for time-multiplication. There is just today, this moment, and in every moment, an opportunity to be discerning and thoughtful, and to spend our life-minutes as wisely as possible.
Maybe it's time for you to get offline and stop reading emails & bloggy things? If so, byeee! Have a beautiful evening.
Or maybe you're curled up somewhere, yearning for something to read. If so, here are a few recent articles & projects that you might enjoy:
- Closing the gap. Read this if... the gap between who you are & who you want to be is feeling uncomfortably wide.
- You'll never be done. Read this if... you tend to postpone your most vital creative work until someday "later" when other things are completely "done." (I am totally guilty of this insidious habit!)
- The love list. This is a collection of time- and sanity-saving tools that I personally recommend, books that have inspired me, groovy music, and more. If you enjoy discovering new tools to help your workday flow more productively, this list is for
you.
- Email is Wonderful. This is a free workbook full of email tips, inspiration and templates to help you write simple, clear, beautiful emails that make people's inboxes - and the world - a happier place. You'll find it here - along with several other free books that you're welcome to download as well. Enjoy!
- Letters & Brunch - The next event is tomorrow (Saturday) in
Portland, Oregon. Waffles, biscuits, eggs, coffee, and lots of cards, pens, stamps, and other supplies so that you can write a hand-written note while you wait for your food. I co-host this along with my boyfriend every month. It's really fun!
Hannah, you also reminded me... you never know how your "work" (whatever your "work" may be) is going to ripple outward and impact other people. Sometimes the ripple that you create is very big, sometimes very small, but it is always very surprising. How incredible that we live in an era where you can post something online, or create a book, or release any type of project, and
someone across the planet might see it and feel inspired to create something, too.
We all have that power - the power to create a "ripple" that influences other people's lives for the better.
Enjoy the rest of your month,
friends.
Keep creating your own personal ripple... there's no telling who it might touch, or where it might lead.
-Alex
PPS. For a purely fun, upbeat tune, listen to this. "I'm in love with my liiiife!" Impossible not to sing along!