The most cliché, corniest line of all. But how far from the truth is it?
…
This past weekend I traveled to my home town in South West Floirda for a distant cousins wedding. Not having a car, I caught a ride from my big sister who also happens to live in Orlando.
On the way back- a 3+ hour drive- she asked me, “Now that your not in school, what do you do with your time?” (referring to the Summer A semester ending at UCF).
This isn’t the first time I’ve heard this type of question- “type” because I don’t believe the question is logical, it’s emotional.
People ask these kinds of questions- most of the time- from my experience, when they are looking for ideas themselves- not because they simply want to know what I do with my time (apparently, school for a 20 year old, is the only task of importance).
That person is bored with the constant drum of school, work, drama, workout, eat, sleep, rinse, repeat.
Those activities seem to beat the life out of us, yet by the same token take up the vast majority of our time- save for the occasional random spurt of fun at night or on the weekend.
…
What am I arguing?
Not a whole lot, I’m not here to change anyone’s mind. I’m simply here to state that you can do literally (almost) whatever you want with your time. You are rarely obligated to do anything, but there are always consequences for your actions (the obligation is most often an illusion, the consequences grossly over warranted).
In my case, I try to follow my passion, and do what I deem important and worthy of my precious time- of which, we all have the same amount (premature trauma or illness related death aside).
To step off (on?) the soap box for a moment, this week is hands down the busiest week of my life. Never before have I had to deal with this amount of activity and mental…stimulation?
The demands are large, the volume is high.
Sure, I’ve dealt with similar stresses before, but never the less this is the largest convention I’ve ever hosted. This is a responsibilty that trounces any school, social, or previous job task by leaps and bounds (that I’ve experienced).
But, it’s a responsibilty I’ve come to know, respect, appreciate, and enjoy.
And it’s one I’ve worked dilligently at…ironing out? Yeah I guess that sounds less corny than bringing to fruition =).
…
But seriously, don’t fritter away your time. Protect it like you would your younger sibiling or a child in the face of physical danger, and do what YOU deem is important with it- weather it be writing, reading, education (notice I didn’t say school), work, exercise, spending time with family/friends, running a blog, playing sports, starting a business, networking…or even doing nothing at all.
It’s up to you to face hard solutions to your problems, and even more importantly, face the question of what to do with your time (read: your life), one day, one passion at a time.
Cya soon guys
-Dream
Another thing is that I think one reason for people not following their dreams is because of the fear of failing. That’s because their dreams are just that, dreams, and therefor are expected to be perfect from the beginning.
Living life in an unconventional way does not necessarily mean that it will be easier work but rather that you FOCUS ON WHAT YOU BELIEVE IS IMPORTANT FOR YOURSELF.
Therefor there should be no fear of failure but rather a mind shift where you put the energy you usually would in a regular everyday routine,for the rest of your life, into making your dreams come true.
I also think that the term “dream” is rather weak in this context and I’d actually prefer to call it life accomplishments or life goals.
These are what makes me want to get up in the morning!
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A few Séneca quotes to go with that kick ass post of yours:
“They lose the day in expectation of the night, and the night in fear of the dawn.” – Lucius Séneca
“It is not that we have a short space of time, but that we waste much of it. Life is long enough, and it has been given in sufficiently generous measure to allow the accomplishment of the very greatest things if the whole of it is well invested.”
- Lucius Séneca
“You will hear many men saying: “After my fiftieth year I shall retire into leisure, my sixtieth year shall release me from public duties”. And what guarantee,pray, have you that your life will last longer? Who will suffer your course to be just as you plan it? Are you not ashamed to reserve for yourself only the remnant of life, and to set apart for wisdom only that time which cannot be devoted to any business? How late it is to begin to live just when we must cease to live! What foolish forgetfulness of mortality to postpone wholesome plans to the fiftieth and sixtieth year, and to intend to begin life at a point to which few have attained!”
- Lucius Séneca
END QUOTES.
For further reading from the Stoic philosopher Lucius Séneca, check out “Letters from a stoic” at amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Letters-Stoic-Penguin-Classics-Seneca/dp/0140442103 or your nearest book store.
Peace –
Jonas
Thanks for the comment and insight. I remember reading about this on Tim’s blog, and have also seen Doug Mcguff mention this every so often. I’ll look into it further this August.
thanks man
-Anthony