This morning while having my first cup of coffee I read about the annual Daylight Saving Time starting on Sunday. I think a lot of people are like me when they think, “What’s the point?” We’re already used to the time and the amount of light available during the day. So, why disrupt the flow?
I read about a Japanese study that claims that any free time over seven hours is nonproductive and people lose interest. For instance, if you love to read, you’re more likely to enjoy reading if you have little time to read. If you know that you have all day to read, you are not as likely to read. If you work a lot and love to read, you will cherish any free time to get some reading in.
“Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it. You can’t keep it, but you can spend it. Once you’ve lost it you can never get it back.” ~ Harvey Mackay
A Rand Corporation study found that Americans average more that 5 hours of free time a day but most of that time is spent looking at electronic screens (tvs, smartphones, etc.). The study breaks down the time according to gender, race, physical activity and such. All you have to do is walk down the street to see people looking down at their phones. I have to confess that I spend a lot of my time in front of my computer screen.
When my dad retired many years ago he had lots of free time. His hobby was taking in stray cats and drinking beer. He wasn’t productive to society. But, did he have to be? He drove my mother crazy and soon developed dementia and died at an early age.
Throughout the years I’ve heard other retired people tell me that they’re so busy they don’t have enough time to do what they love to do. Why are some people bored to death with lots of free time others say they don’t have enough?
“If you love life, don’t waste time, for time is what life is made up of.” ~ Bruce Lee
I retired almost 4 years ago and I’m one of those that wishes I had just a few more hours in the day to enjoy what I’m doing. If my wife is working I spend my time reading, writing/blogging, studying ways to make money online, designing t-shirts, taking online courses, cooking and looking for new plant-based recipes, grocery shopping, yard work, and more. When my wife is not working, we usually do a lot of stuff together. I love hanging out with her.
I’ve learned from watching my dad that free time isn’t a luxury unless you make it that. The paradox of time is that if you have a lot of it, then you must work hard to enjoy it. For those who don’t work at it, death seems to creep in too early. Life is short either way. Work hard at enjoying it!
My favorite saying is “memento mori” which means, “remember you will die.” That is the only thing for sure in life that you have absolutely no control over. I wear a purple, braided bracelet with a skull on it to remind me daily that I will die someday and to “be here now” and enjoy each moment. Breathe and be mindful and grateful of every little thing that surrounds you.
Now I will take a break. Breathe. Smell the aroma of dark roasted coffee being poured into my cup. Taste.
Namaste
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