Finding the time to LIVE
I have always had the nasty habit of believing I was too busy to find the time for a vacation. However, over the weekend I found the time to get away to Disneyland. I know it sounds odd for two adults without kids to go to Disneyland, but surprisingly we weren’t the only childless couple there. There were more people there than I thought there would be.
My wife had planned the trip. I was resistant at first. I was busy, I told her. We didn’t have the money, I said. But she insisted. And wouldn’t you know it, there was time to go. There was money for the trip.
As much as I hate to admit it, I still find myself falling back into the old patterns of living on autopilot; thinking only about one day at a time. It’s difficult to break the habit, but it’s a habit I must break if I am to enjoy life.
This weekend got me thinking, how did I get into this predicament where I fail to look beyond today? Why can’t I plan fun times? What makes me think I can’t enjoy life?
It’s not like I don’t believe I can enjoy life. The thought just never come to the surface! That’s living on autopilot: Never even thinking about anything other than getting by day to day. I hate it.
Set aside time for planning.
Many of us are either busy, or believe we are busy. Either way it is important to set aside time to plan. The time can be used to review goals, plan vacations, plan the future, or even just think about what you enjoy.
What would you do if you had the time and money
If you had the time and money, what would you do day to day? Would you continue to work? Would you travel? Would you take up a new hobby or a new cause? This step is one of the most important steps to having a life worth living.
If you are successful in your dreams of living, rather than existing, you will find you have more time on your hands. Or, at least you will find less busy time and more available time. What will you do with that time?
The time you find here is the time you will spend LIVING. If you don’t know what you want to do, how can you truly live? If you fail to find something rewarding and enjoyable in this available time, you risk losing it back to simple existence. You risk filling this time with busy work that ends up becoming your daily routine. Your daily grind. Before you know it, your time is spent.
Remembering to dream
Remember to take the time to dream. Don’t just think about what you could do to fill LIVING time. Think about what you have always wanted to do. Or think about things you never even knew about.
Have you ever gone sky diving? Or how about hiking across country? Or even traveling to a foreign land to learn the local art from a master?
Take the time to not only find your own dreams, but learn the dreams of others. Let their dreams inspire your own. You may find someone else dreams of something you never knew existed, but now can’t live without.
