Precious time thankful time

Somebody wrote these words. This unknown author is very perceptive and the more I read the words the more I realize how true it is.

Here are the words:

This is the age of the half-read page

The quick hash and the mad dash,

The bright night with the nerves tight

The plane hop with the brief stop

The lamp tan in a short span

The big shot in a good spot

The brain strain and the heart pain

The catnaps until the spring snaps

And the fun’s gone.

We are always in a rush.

Last year I did 376 talks, training and seminars. I ended the year exhausted. I promised myself I will slow down this year. Take a few weeks off, sign up for learning sessions and even got myself to attend summer school in Oxford University but as of this writing I am logging in more than 240 talks with almost every space in my calendar loaded.

Now do not get me wrong. I love what I am doing but I rush through the day. My laptop with me, my USB beside me, my car takes me to different places and I do my thing. And then I rush home, grab a few hours answering emails, updating my blog site and confirming people who wanted me to add them to my list of friends in Facebook.

Technology has afforded us the capability to do more but no technology in the world can ever add more hours into our day.

Greek mythology has the image of time being like a man with long hair in front and bald in the back. The picture is of one you must catch coming toward you, because once it has passed, nothing is left to grab.

And so we rush once more.

 “There are just too many things to do with too little time to do it.”

“I’ve set my goals, I’m out for the kill.”

“Another event to organize, another project to launch” and so we wake up in the morning, we rush through the day until we hit the bed in the evening, grab a few hours sleep and wake up the next morning to repeat the same process.

And in our doing so we forget one thing…..we forget to think and to thank the times we have with our loved ones.

My kids have their own gigs. But they know that we will have dinner together most of the evenings. I bring the Ilocana with me most of the times. We may not have the luxury of going out on dates but when we are together, we’re dating. (It’s economical this way.)

Spending time with my loved ones is one thing. But taking the time to thank them for spending theirs with me is equally important.

I learned this lesson through a poem Alex Araneta wrote for his lovely wife Elaine as his present for her birthday. With his permission, I am sharing this with you. Look at the words carefully:

There is much to be thankful for in our time

Of joyful moments with family and friends

Of being together wherever and whenever

A trip, a run, a hand to hold and a meal to share

A testament to our oneness, an example of God’s faithfulness

A prayer is what I offer

That our life together God will make long and strong

That we may grow old together and our lives be even sweeter

As we look forward to precious moments like holding in our arms our children’s children

Or being witness to hearing our children speak of how proud they are of us

Then we can consider our lives fruitful and well-lived

For although we lived for each other we have made other lives

Much better

And so there is much to be thankful for in our time

Time spent with loved ones is precious. Now we need to take the time to thank them for the time they spent with us. Each day is a gift from God. Learn to live each one excitedly, productively and thankfully.

(Francis Kong will be the lead trainer for the Dr. John Maxwell’s “Developing the Leader Within You” leadership program this September 29-30 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. For further inquiries contact Inspire Leadership Consultancy Inc. 632-6872614 OR 09178511115).