2008: Making Better Use of Time

"As long as you are trying to be something other than what you actually are, your mind wears itself out." – J. Krishnamurti

We are only just hours into 2008, and I am holding firm to my New Year’s pledge to ‘make better use of my time this year.’ Yes, it’s noon, and I’m sitting comfortably with my MacBook on my lap, watching back to back episodes of Corner Gas. And I’m laughing out loud, something I don’t do often enough. For those unfamiliar with this show, I can only say it’s very Canadian and very funny, in a Canadian sort of way. Corner Gas, awarded Geminis for Best Comedy, Best Ensemble Performance and Best Writing in a Comedy, and getting ‘rage reviews across the USA’ on Superstation, is about to enter it’s 5th season, but I have to confess to only recently becoming a real fan of the show.

Regardless, you may be wondering how watching two and a half hours of a situation comedy, no matter how hilarious, constitutes making better use of my time, especially since I’m always telling myself I should watch less television and use the reclaimed time to read more. The thing is, it isn’t healthy to always be striving to be better, to achieve greater success, to outdo oneself and others. We have to also make time to just sit back and smell the roses, and be who we are in the present moment. Tomorrow is a working day, and I have an ever growing list of tasks to prioritize and get started on, hopefully with conviction and zeal. But today is New Year’s Day, a holiday, and I have every intention to indulge myself in whatever simple pleasures take my fancy. If I choose to have a glass of wine with brunch, I will savour every sip, and not fret about that long list of To Do’s awaiting my attention. And if I decide to read, I’ll pick up whatever book I’m in the mood for, not one that voice inside my head tells me I ‘should’ be reading now.

Making better use of your time, at least to me, means living more fully in the present moment, being more cognizant of the ‘now,’ and more appreciative of the good things in life, like friendship, kindness and yes, humour. I spend far too much time getting depressed over the state of world affairs, and since most of those problems are beyond my sphere of influence (unfortunately, I can’t vote outside of Canada), it makes more sense to focus on what I can do, here and now. For example, whenever I buy something, I make a point of engaging in friendly conversation, and always walk away feeling better for the smiles and eye contact, no matter how brief the interaction. While that may seem quite trivial, it really isn’t, as everything we do and react to has a ripple effect in ways we can’t foresee. Making better use of our time doesn’t just mean accomplishing more, but also valuing more what it is we are doing at any given time. I intend to make the most of 2008, and wish all of you a Happy and Fulfilling New Year. And now back to Corner Gas.