The holidays will soon be upon us; it is that time of year to start thinking about gift-giving. Sometimes, we think long and hard when choosing a gift for our beloveds. Many times, the perfect gift is the gift of ourselves and our time.
The time we spend with our friends and family is precious. Nothing compares with ‘catching-up’ on what is going on. Our lives change day to day, and so communication is crucial.
We live in a time when texting is both practical and convenient. I love to text back and forth with friends and family. But, I really cherish a hand-written note or letter…something I can read over and over again. I have boxes of letters I have saved for years. I simply can’t part with them. I like to write letters as well. However, I text much more often than I write a note. For one thing, it saves time. I have to wonder though; do I really get to say all that I want to say?
We are all perpetually busy. It takes time just to look over the calendar and make room for all the things we want to do, and all the people we want to spend time with! I have found though, that it is good to pencil in upcoming events pretty far ahead. The truth is, everyone’s calendar fills up pretty quickly…especially around the holidays.
Time is a commodity we only get so much of. When it comes to this valuable resource, we don’t get second chances.
So, this year, as I am getting ready for the holidays, one of my top priorities is making sure my time is spent wisely. It is not just a to-do list of things to get done. I will always have things to ‘get done’, and when those things are done, I start the list all over again. So, the next best thing I can do is to create a to-do list of the activities that I actually want to do most…things that bring me joy. And yes, I can create a list for this! I can also make sure that I get to spend time with the people I want to share those activities with: spending time with the people who spark joy in our souls is very important.
In fact, this should be my number one New Year’s resolution. How can I better manage my time so it really reflects the things that are in my heart? Truthfully, all of our days should be a reflection of what really matters the most to us.
The gift of our time is one where we must be generous to ourselves. Every day, we should enter a place in our planners for time spent doing activities that make us happy. It may be only twenty minutes where you take a walk in the woods, or maybe, read a favorite book. And if it is a friend you have deeply missed, there is no time like the present to write or call.
When we gift ourselves with special moments, we seem better able to deal with everything else…including time spent on things we don’t feel like doing! The more often we open the celebrated gift of our own time well-spent, the better able we are at giving the gift of our time to others. We discover our best self, the one who has so much more to give away…love, compassion, and kindness. What better presents could there be at Christmas or any other day of the year?
Ecclesiastes 3:1: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.”
I like to write notes because there are so many winsome ones out there, so you also send a gift of beauty. I have fun choosing stamps, too, and order them through usps to find fun ones.
I absolutely love getting a hand-written note in the mail. I like your idea of the fun stamps and beautiful paper. It makes it seem like an exquisite gift.
What a beautiful post, Linda! I never thought of making up a Happy List, just little happy things tucked into my hours.
But it makes so much sense, you know?
When we intentionally set time aside for something, and make a note for doing that thing, we tend to do it.I have used different color pens or highlighters to show in a planner the ‘happy things’.
That’s a great way to keep track of things as well as to intentionally work in Happy Do’s. Thanks for this post, Linda!
I try to remind myself of this often…the little daily happy moments add up to a happy life. It is not always about the great big events; it is about the details in an ‘ordinary’ day. When we celebrate the details, we discover that there is extraordinary bliss to be found in all the little things.
This post really hit home, as I’ve been struggling with having too much to do and not enough time to do it. I’ve set aside time for my family. I need to think about how I can give myself that Happy List.
It seems counterintuitive, but when we give ourselves the gift of time, we have more time leftover for everyone else. Perhaps, that is when our best self emerges, the self that is energized and happy. A well that is full has more to give than one that is drained; abundance flows from a steady source that does not run on ’empty’.
I think you’re right. I just need to keep reminding myself!
We all need a daily reminder! That is why it is good to pencil in little pockets of time for yourself and what makes you happy. You can start with small pockets…ten or fifteen minutes, and build from there. Pretend it is a sandcastle you are building for yourself…every grain of sand counts! You are not being selfish. You are building a better sandcastle for yourself and your dreams.
Writing a list of things that bring me joy is a wonderful idea, one that I should have included in my book, “Life Is Full of Sweet Spots – An Exploration of Joy”!
Your blog sparks so much joy for me! Life will always have the rough spots…but choosing the ‘sweet spots’ along the way is the key to happiness. Always, there are things to thank God for!
I just opened my email and read this post. I just returned from the memorial service if an old high school friend. We parted ways our senior year & never made efforts to mend. We saw each other last year during two different reunions. We spoke, smiles & hugged. She didn’t know it, but at that time she had cancer for at least a year. It was the last time we spoke. She passed away unexpectedly in her sleep last Thursday night. Time is indeed a treasure. God’s grip – Alan
I am so glad that you and your friend reconnected. 🙂 Time passes by very quickly. I was out of town this past week and just got home. I feel as if the week just flew by…here it is, almost the middle of October already!
Linda, it’s so very true. You blink and decades are history.
I think of this when I look at my children. It seems at times that just yesterday I was their age; but, the years have come and gone.
delightful wise words … I can’t imagine a day without reflection <3
So true! 🙂