not enough time

I lived way up on Lake Michigan in Petoskey for a number of years and my favorite book store McLean & Eakin

http://www.mcleanandeakin.com/

is in that town. I bought my all time favorite mug there that said "too many books...too little time". That is how I always felt and I snatched it up when I saw it. I am sure there were lots of others that felt the same way and it was popular. I feel quite sure many feel the same way about other things they love to do and quilting would be right there with my passion to read. So, "too many quilts, too little time". And, if you are reading this you can put your own passions in that same little quip "too many ____, too little time".

Well, what we really need is more time huh?? And, since we search the world over for other things we want to have more of, like the grocery store, the book store, the kitchen store and ultimately the online store etc., which store can we run to for more "time"? As yet, I have not found one. If you do, please share it with me.

Of course we think in terms of 24 hr days. If I could "find" more time, would it be more than 24 hr days? Or would I like more days in the month or more months in the year? I guess that determines what kinds of goals or deadlines we have. But possibly most of us are looking at the short term for relief and that would be a longer day so that tomorrow I can wake up without any feelings of "here we go again" or maybe just with a feeling of guilt and panic.

I started this blog to try to meld together two issues. One my passion for quilting, for constructing with beautiful fabrics and the other for working on managing my finite 24 hr days. Since I can't beg, borrow, steal or even purchase more time, I am stuck with managing better the time I have been given and "find" the time for the necessities and the passions (which might overlap if you are lucky) and get up tomorrow morning without any guilt or panic and with relief that I chose well yesterday and "found" time for what was needed, both the necessary and the fun.

If we "don't have enough time" then I believe we have not identified our priorities. I once had a Pastor that said "you can tell a man's (or woman's) priorities by they day-timer and their checkbook". Now of course he was challenging how much time we spend with God and how much of our blessings given to us by God, we are honoring God by giving back to Him. But, I think I can use that same principle for the other parts of my life. There are barometers for how I spend my time and energy of the day I have been given and as I discover them, I will see where my real priorities are. Then....oh yes, what then?

Well, that is where the real work begins. What ARE my priorities in this life - what is really important to me, what are my goals and aspirations? What is the real order of importance to the activities I engage in?? I don't really need to do more, do faster, do less, slow the pace etc. First I need to prioritize my life. If I don't like where the current activity choices are taking me (and even if you haven't listed your goals and aspirations and priorities...you are choosing every minute) I can choose differently and that is freedom. There is freedom in managing my time. It is not a straight jacket to inhibit me. Dr. Phil McGraw once said "insanity is doing the same things over and over and expecting different results".

So, if I am feeling like there is not enough time, I can put a few things down that are priorities to me, number them in order of importance and begin to choose to give them that level of priority. Step number to change might be doing something different or nothing needs to change, in which case I don't need to continue writing this blog. I will forever be challenged to use my time more wisely, more to the level of the priorities I have given my activities. Back to my reason for this blog, to encourage myself and you my readers, to "find" more time for the priorities we have chosen.

This quilt was made using a "time management" process that I will share next time. It is a Split Rail design - simple and fun and now it's my Granddaughter Dylan's quilt.

Now it's time for something else

Wendy...making every minute count