It’s about time

I’ve almost depleted the master to-do list that has looked the same since October, and I am cranking out a new one. I can’t function without my lists. There are daily tasks, weekly items, and the sometime-in-the-near-future stuff. Most of the major 2021 items have been chipped away at. And today, the promise of a new year hit me, and suddenly, I put pen to paper, and the new list created itself. The master list with the broad categories. The themes. The hopes. The, I-really-need-to-make-this-happen list. I’m feeling energized as the new year starts. How about you?

I have never been a resolution setter. But I do take stock when the calendar changes years. I know that I have another birthday in less than four months, and it is all a reminder that time is a gift. For me it’s usually not about goals or changes. When it comes down to it, it’s how should I be spending my time. Where will I get the most joy? How will I feel most alive? What needs to happen if I am going to be the best of me?

Tim was a different kind of list maker. He accomplished some amazing and important things in his life. He definitely had drive and focus. And Tim’s mind was constantly in motion. He was an idea man which meant that there were post-it notes everywhere. Words, calculations, bullet points, drawings. It was pretty incredible actually. But, it took me years to understand that his lists were possibilities, not to-do’s. Tim’s brother, Tom, lovingly called him Action Potential. Of course, this is a scientific term and reading about it makes my eyes water. Let me attempt the For Dummies version in my words. Action Potential is an explosion of electrical activity in a muscle cell. It is known as an all-or-nothing reaction. There are no gradations. The sentiment here, is that Tim could and would take one of those ideas or goals and be all in. I mean all in. Fully activated potential. And just as easily, an idea on a post-it, may never see the light of day. All or nothing. Tim loved that nickname and he lived up to it!

Tim was also a weekend resolutionary. Spellcheck does not like that word, so I thought I made it up, but then I found it in the urban dictionary. Anyway, if a revolutionary acts in order to cause change, then I think a resolutionary resolves to cause change. The plan on Saturday would be to start something on Monday. On Monday, I’m going to start my new workout routine. On Monday, I’m going to start the Mediterranean diet. On Monday, I’m going to start daily meditation. Yes, Tim was Action Potential.

The truth is, no matter how we approach our lists, goals and resolutions, there is nothing more precious than time. We make decisions about how we cash it in- to what we dedicate it and to whom we give it. But we can never, speed it up or slow it down.

Before Christmas, a friend playfully asked me if Hank had written to Santa this year. Hey, my Hank feels human to me, so I loved this sentiment. And so I wrote that letter to Santa from Hank.

Hank said, because he was already the luckiest of all canines, he knew it wasn’t fair that he ask for much. He simply wanted to ensure that Chewy.com kept sending his autoship of rawhide chews. Then Hank asked Santa for time. Acknowledging “it is the most precious gift, so I understand why it can be hard to find and why I have to be grateful for what I already have. But since I am writing a list, I thought I would at least ask.”

Hank added, “I’m turning 11 in a few months…as much time as you can find for me would be great…I don’t ask this for myself. It’s because my mom needs me. She needs me to hike with her, to sleep with her, to talk to her, and to protect her.”

So what is your plan? For today. Tomorrow. This year and next year. Will you realize that it’s about time you take action on something you have been ignoring? Or will you finally go after something you desire? How much will you give to others, and how much will you keep just for you? Will you dedicate time to what makes you the best possible version of yourself? Are you ready? it’s about time. And there is nothing more precious.

*And here is one final truth to begin 2022. I had some doubts about committing to my writing again during the few days preceding this post. But on the evening before my scheduled launch of today’s blog, insights and words, much more powerful than mine could ever hope to be, came across my path from a lost soul who has inspired my life these last few years, John O’Donohue. I will not publish it here. Go find it in your search engine with the words “give yourself time to make a prayer.” I hope to see you here at www.mysoulride.com every third Saturday.