mrfreeman911.blogspot.com
There are so many things in this world vying for your attention; so many important things that fight for your time. Now is as good a time as any to ask yourself….what is really important in my life? What is it that really needs my time and my attention? What is consuming a major part of my day?
Yes, work is more than likely a big chunk of that time (or at least 6-10 hours of it each day), be it a CEO of a company, a teacher in a classroom, a sales clerk at a department store, a server at a restaurant, a stay at home mom (and yes, stay at home mom is a job title for those of you who were wondering!), or a myriad of other job titles. Work is indeed essential for paying bills, buying food, keeping gas in your car, etc., so for the sake of time (no pun intended!), work is not considered in this list as we all know it is important.
leo0816.blogspot.com
Moving right along: so what else is important in your life? Do you spend time communicating with friends and family via Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter, and Instagram, or do you actually take some time to meet with those same family and friends for coffee or lunch, talking face to face, sharing hugs and laughter? I know time is ever fleeting, believe me I get it! After all, I am a single mom of a teenage boy and a teacher for children with special needs. I understand the shortage of time. However, I have come to understand the value or importance of time spent in close proximity with those I love and care about. While a text, instant message, tweet, or whatever social media or technology you use to communicate with friends and family is great, it should never replace time spent in the same room with them, sharing stories, laughter, happiness, sadness, failures, and success. No tweet or IM has ever given me more comfort than a shoulder to cry on or a hug from a friend.
Are you a TV person? Do you spend countless hours watching football, Netflix, Hulu, or just plain old cable television? Those are hours you could spend playing games with friends, reading books with your children (which is crucial to their literacy and communication development), visit with a neighbor who is elderly or alone, or do some kind of family fun time. Now, don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with watching some TV, but when it interferes with more valuable things in your life, like family and friends, then something may be askew in your time management! Maybe incorporate movie night or football games with some family and friends, sharing food, fun, and maybe even a book or game afterward.
Perhaps you are a hobby person, spending hours of time in your garage, shed, or hobby room making great things that in the end only collect dust or become something cool/pretty to look at, but not very practical for everyday use. Are you all alone in that room for hours? I believe in down time! It is necessary to have time for myself, as it is important in keeping me sane and bringing a sense of calm and peace to my life….just as it may do for you. However, if you are spending hours upon hours (meaning more than 2 hours a day in your garage or hobby room alone, all by yourself, solo), maybe, just maybe you may want to try something new. Share your hobby with your children. Encourage a friend to swing by and help you out. Branch out and make one of your projects a family project, making hobby time an opportunity to come together (after you have some alone time, of course!).
Maybe your addicted to blogging or are a gamer, and technology consumes a great deal of your time. How much is enough? How healthy could it be to sit in front of a computer or TV screen for hours on end with no real human interaction…and no, voices on the other end of multiplayer game don’t count as human interaction! Again, it may be time for you to readjust your schedule, allowing a chance for some face to face interaction to occur that does not involve typing or using a game controller. For the record, let me say, in and of itself, blogging and gaming are not bad things, and they can be very healthy outlets for stress and overloaded emotions, however, nothing replaces face to face human interaction.
Are you getting what I am trying to say? The important things in your life are not things at all, they are the relationships you have with your friends and family. Yes, your friends may be weird and your family may drive you nuts sometimes, but when all is said and done, they are all you have in this crazy world. They are the ones who help you when your feeling down, come along side of you during an emotional crisis, jump up and down with you when you are excited about life, celebrate special events with you, grieve when you have lost someone dear, hug you because they just know you need it, and they even listen to you rant and rave about the insanity of life. Yes, friends and family are important in your life! Take time to show them how much you care and love them by putting aside other time stealers, and investing your time in your relationships with them.
nedhardy.com
There is no better time like the present, and no better excuse than the Christmas season, to rekindle friendships, rebuild relationships, and renew fellowships with your friends and family!
May God bless you and help you to prioritize what is truly important in your life! Merry Christmas with love ❤
Journey with God 