Finding Time Versus Making Time.

I caught myself thinking, "I just can't find time to. . .". So I started thinking about that phrase again. "Find time", what exactly had I done to try to find time? It turned out in this instance I had done nothing to try to find time. I was just passively hoping to find time. That's kind of like hoping to find a check in the mailbox, or hoping that without practice I'll just get good at my kung fu (or whatever other endeavor I'm taking on).

So I started thinking about actively finding time, maybe that would work. So I start looking at my daily schedule and realize that there were lots of spot where I might have time to do something. I hadn't found it because I hadn't been looking for it. So hooray I found time.

I still didn't follow through with what I had found time for. Something else always got in the way.

To meet a new commitment/goal/whatever, I have to MAKE time. I have to set aside time in my day that is dedicated to whatever thing I couldn't FIND time for. Sometimes the schedule can be very exact (12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday). Sometimes I need it to be more flexible (as soon as my daughter goes down for her nap at least three days per week).

The Ten Tigers Program last year really taught me how to do this.

Give What You've Got

I believe that a person who has, should give to a person who has not. A recent example in my life: I have a willingness and ability to crawl into small, inhospitable, natural openings in the bedrock. A man whose dog chased a raccoon into one of these spaces did not. So a friend and I tried our best to get in there to get that dog out. This particular cave quickly became too small for us to get far enough to get the dog, but we tried our best.

A friend of mine who has enough money offered to give gas money and buy supplies for people who would be willing to try to get in.

There are lots of ways to help out in the world around you. Think about what you have that you can give, and chip in. Maybe you don't have money, but you have time to volunteer, or maybe you have money but no time. Find a way to use the gifts you've been given. You've been given them for a reason.

If anyone out there has been given the gift of amazing shrinking powers, there is a coon dog that could use your help.