Time Management

The only thing we have in life is time. It's our most precious commodity. Time is life. When we go to work, we sell our time, which is like selling little bits of our life. Be careful how you sell your life.

Now I get that people have to have some sort of income. If you can make a living doing a job you love, that's ideal. Unfortunately, too many people work to survive. If that's what you have to do to support your family, that's a noble sacrifice.

If, on the other hand, you are working at a job you hate to buy things you don't need or want, that's a really bad deal. It's also one of those things that sneaks up on people. Many people sacrifice to buy stuff that they are only getting because that's what's expected of them. We are social animals and it's easy to follow the herd.

What I can't understand are those people who have good retirements and then don't know what to do with themselves. Did they forget to have dreams? Could it be a lack of imagination that causes people to take crappy jobs, “to stay active.” Maybe they've been stuck inside a box so long they don't know what to do with themselves when they get out?

Recently, as favor for a friend, I joined one of those professional networks. My profile is probably one of the weirdest ones. I make it very clear that I am not looking for a normal job, nor am I'm looking to climb the ladder of success. It's the job resume for someone who does not want to work a real job.

That doesn't mean I won't work. However, I'm doing work that I either really enjoy or work that pays really really well. Ideally, one that does both. That being said, if there's some dire need for money and my employment options are limited I'll take the job until the crisis is over. That's one of the things I did when I first got married and had some surprise expenses. Sacrifices are made for your family.

I will donate my time, but that's something else. We all have to do our part to make the world a bit better. People have been confused to see me do work for free that I refuse to do for pay. Giving labor out of love for my fellow man is a gift that makes me feel good. However, they often can't pay me enough if that satisfaction is taken away.

My view on time and work is skewed by my life experiences. One of the major influences is when I was seriously injured on my job as a firefighter. No one could tell me if I was ever going to improve or how close to normal I could get. Many months of suffering went by before I could even think of having a future. Since then, I know how truly precious time is. I got a second chance at life and I'm not going to waste it.

-Sixbears