The Value of Your Time

Lately, I've had a rough time dealing with the chaos of the holiday season.  Christmas has lost its meaning and New Year's is an excuse for everyone to get drunk.  Don't misunderstand me.  I understand why Christmas has evolved into a largely commercial holiday.  We live in a capitalistic society where money and increased sales are the bottom line.  Also, I have no problem with people who want to drink although I choose not to partake in drinking, smoking, or drugs.  

I've been doing a great deal of thinking about time lately to get my mind off other stuff, so I suppose it's time for another blog on philosophy.  Specifically, I've been contemplating how little time we all get on the planet.  When you take a step back, the ways we spend our time seem rather ridiculous.  Video games, sporting events, drinking beer, and making endless small talk.  We all have a biological clock although some of us are more aware of said clock than others.  Your time composes your life, therefore your time is precious.  If someone is wasting your time, I view that as a form of theft.  In other words, time holds value.  Many people don't think of time as something that can be "stolen" or assigned value, but I disagree.  

Unless you want to live an unhappy life, you must manage your time to reflect your priorities.  You might think this sounds selfish, but managing your time well does not need to be an egotistical exercise.  For instance, if you value community service, find ways to get down to the food kitchen.  I think the first step in recognizing the value of your time is taking ownership of your time.  You own your time, not someone else.  The way some people live their lives, you'd think that they are slaves or indentured servants.  So make the most of your time and bring your whole self to every situation you encounter.      

Priority is such an important word.  My advice is to be selective about the ways in which you spend your time.  I often hear people complain that they felt that had to do something that in reality was not mandatory.  Think carefully about time spent with others.  Does it add to your life in any way?  Does that time make you happy?  If not, then don't spend your time that way any longer.  Don't let anyone steal your life!  

I am only nineteen years old, but I feel that many of my earlier years were wasted.  I tried to be something I was not instead of just being my authentic self.  I spent way too much time on baseball and watching sporting events on television.  I think watching sports is a good way to unwind and relax, but had I known about all the fascinating, intellectually stimulating material out there, I would have budgeted my time differently.  I suppose I feel this way because I was raised in a rather sheltered environment.  I'll never forget when I was forbidden to watch Jurassic Park in kindergarten because it was rated PG-13.  I can't do anything about the way my parents raised me, but I've learned to value the limited time I get on planet earth.  If I make it to 80, then, right now, almost 25% of my life is finished.  Quite honestly, I'm pleased with the last three years of my life as a whole.  I've been more productive than at any other point in my life.  I've helped more people than at any other point in time.  

On a related note, I want to advice anyone reading this note to never be intimidated.  In his book Winning Through Intimidation, Robert J. Ringer explains his own technique for success called "The Theory of Intimidation".  He states that, "The rewards a person obtains are inversely proportional to the degree to which that person is intimidated."  In other words, if you are frightened, you will not do well in life.