The Benefits of Making Time

We are all very busy.  It is hard to find someone, no anyone, who will tell you they have a lot of time on their hands. Instead, when you ask someone about life they will often reply something along the line of "There are not enough hours in the day" or "I really need eight days in a week to get everything accomplished." Here's a good one, "I have so much to do and not enough time to do it." 

Time was made this past weekend for a 13 year old named Colin.  He's one of the grandsons.  He had been promised by his grandfather a few weeks back that he would come and watch him play soccer because the last time his "grandpa" was in the area he was injured and couldn't play.  This was not one of those events that required a trip of a few block or across town.  It's two and a half hours one way.  His grandmother had established a tradition long ago of taking the grand kids out for their birthday for lunch and a present.  "Colin's "grandma" was in another state on this latest visit so "grandpa", for the first time, took on the birthday duties.  Lunch was at one his favorite places for "shrimp" and then it was on to a book store to get the latest two editions in a literary series Colin was reading.  ( They were on his birthday and Christmas list)  When grandpa took him home he was told a hug was needed for grandpa and grandma too.  It was the strongest  hug I had had in a long time.

The subsequent two and a half hour drive was a joy.  I was in the clouds.  The connection made that day is one I will never forget and it provide a valuable lesson or two.  I could have stayed home but if I had I would have missed the blessing of getting to know one of the grand children a little better and I would have missed a gift that was for me.  Some may know this and for some this may be news but when you give..often times what you are giving to gives back.  In this case is was conversation, a hug and a smile or two.  Plus a care free drive home.  I count four Benefits of Making Time and that is a pretty good return on the investment.  So the next time you find yourself presented with a similar situation whether it be family or something else...make the time.  All the other "stuff" can wait.  But these precious opportunities don't come by all that often.

Peace of Mind in the Middle of the Storm

Life is always teaching you something.  Today, October 13, is a perfect example.  It was tough from the get go because this week in my profession requires the alarm to go off at 2:45 in the morning.  The stress inherent in that alone would drive some people to drink. (I quit 10 years ago)  Work was less than enjoyable, and yes there are days it is a joy, because I was down right tired. The trip home was anticipated to see the new tree planted in our backyard only to find it had not been done.  They found  an underground cable no one previously knew about.  The situation was being investigated while the furnace technician was in the basement doing the routine fall maintenance.  The Reader's Digest condensed version of the story is that the furnace needs to be replaced.  The storm clouds had already formed even before the tree saga began to unfold and the storm was raging as my wife and I talked about the financial obligation that was ahead of us.  Yet, despite all of that, I can sit here tonight in relative calm and with a sense of peace of mind. 

Maybe it was the walk with the dog before the sun went down tonight.   Maybe it was knowing that no matter what life throws at you, it can be dealt with in a positive way.  Case in point, the experiences of today led to time for thought and a long overdue blog post.  But maybe,  even more importantly, it's the confidence that I will make it through tonight and tomorrow and in the long run the events of today are just the bumps in the road that are a part of life. 

Perspective is a very important part of life and it's been clear to me for a number of years that we all need to take a step back and put days like the one just described into perspective.  It's just one day.  What happened on this day cannot be undone. I can only look forward to another day tomorrow.  I believe its perspective like this that provides Peace of Mind in the Middle of the Storm.