Your Greatest Luxury
7-2-2024
What is your greatest luxury?
We tend to forget the value of time. In today's fast-paced world, it's easy to overlook the precious gift of time. Often, we take it for granted as an endless resource, forgetting that it's the most irreplaceable luxury we can ever replenish. When we treat time as a luxury, we begin to value it more deeply in our daily experiences and interactions with others. Spending unique moments with those we love fuels our lives and makes the time we have more fulfilling.
Many of us fall into the trap of taking time for granted. We procrastinate, delay, and often wish for more daily hours. In our personal lives, we think our loved ones will always be there, so we can call them next week. We assume they already know we love them, so we postpone a caring act of kindness or encouraging words. I'm sure we all have had this happen. Reflecting on these missed opportunities can be a powerful reminder that time is finite.
I've heard it said: -What is the actual value of time?
If you want to know the value of a year, Ask a student who got held back.
If you want to know the value of a month, Ask the Mom of a premature baby.
If you want to know a week's value, Ask the editor of a weekly magazine.
If you want to know the value of a day, Ask the wage earner with six kids.
If you want to know the value of an hour, Ask two lovers who are about to meet.
If you want to know the value of a minute, Ask someone who missed their flight.
If you want to know the value of a second, Ask the accident survivor.
If you want to know the value of a millisecond, Ask the Olympian who won Silver.
Sometimes, we overestimate what we can do in a day and underestimate what we can do in a month, a year, or five. Dedicating a few minutes each day to something is always better than nothing if we do it consistently. This could be learning something new, exercising, or even hanging out and making memories with your friends and loved ones.
Make as much peace with your past as possible because living in the present moment becomes less stressful. Holding onto your pain, past regrets, and mistakes can weigh you down, preventing you from fully embracing the now.
1. Accept and learn from your experiences as part of your journey. They have strengthened you.
2. Forgive yourself and others for past actions. Holding onto resentment only hurts you emotionally and physically -worst yet, it hinders your present happiness.
3. Meditate or pray to connect spiritually with God or your Higher Power. That gives us peace, perspective, and possibilities.
4. Honor those around you. It's beautiful when we can love and honor those who loved us, helped us, and shaped our lives. Relationships enrich our days and provide meaningful connections that help us do life better. So many people feel so lonely.
5. Call Your Parents if you're still able. Spend time with them, listen to their stories, and express gratitude for all they did for you. I'm sure they did the best they knew.
6. Thank that Teacher or Coach who believed in you when you doubted yourself. A simple message will make their day and remind them why they do what they do.
7. Carve out time for those you love: Take a moment to tell them how blessed you are to have them in your life. A heartfelt conversation or text strengthens the bond.
8. Disconnect from work and your screen to connect with your kids if you have them. What they crave the most is you, your validation, and your love—not what you can provide.
What has been your personal experience with the value of time in these contexts? Don't beat yourself up if you haven't always made the best of each moment. That means you're human! Yet, since nobody gets more than 24-hour days, let's be more intentional with our time.
Begin each day with a clear plan. Prioritize tasks that align with your goals and values. Spend time with those you love. Try to make peace with your past to live in the now. Thank those who helped you in life. Pursue your passion and your dream. Above all, don't count time; make your time count because time is a real luxury.
All my best,
Maria A. Mansfield
Author and Life Coach
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