For The Time of Your Life

Malcolm Forbes once said, "Unless you're serving time there's never enough of it." It's true! Time is the greatest commodity we have. We may be able to make more money, but we will eventually run out of time.

Writer Carl Sandburg advised, "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."

One man must have been thinking about this when he took a time management seminar. A true story has it that the instructor asked everyone in the class to make a list of ten major time-wasters. The eager young man raised his hand and inquired, "Is it necessary to identify the individuals by name?"

How we use time is important, and only you can determine what is a good use of your time. But if we are not clear about how we want to spend our time, other people will be all too happy to spend it for us.

Those who take charge of their time have learned to say "no" to some things that will have enough time left to say "yes" to that which is more fulfilling. THEY decide how to fill their days up - THEY take charge. THEY determine what is an important use of their time.

This is not to say that every minute should be used in productive pursuits. I like Bertrand Russell's observation: "The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time." Why not? Because time you spend doing something that brings you pleasure can be an excellent way to spend some of the day.

Only you can choose how your time will be spent. You will use it for work as well as play; for pursuing your dreams as well as relaxation; for self improvement, for inner growth and to give away to others. Much of your time you will feel you spent well. Some of it you may feel you could have used differently. But all of it ought to be spent as YOU determine. For there are few things you will regret more than to look back and wonder why you spent so much time doing what
others want.

For the time of your life remember...it is YOUR life. And your time.