Wednesday Wonder

Carpe diem. Seize the day.

May be dating myself, but Robin Williams in ‘The Dead Poets Society’ is one of my favourite movies. When Robin, as a teacher in a rather stuffy private school, talks to his students about seizing the day rather than just accepting the way things have always been, or how they are being directed to believe things should go, it makes me want to examine my life.

When was the last time you truly seized the day? And what does seizing the day actually mean? It may be different for each of us.

Lately, I have been wondering about how to get everything I can out of each day, each moment. How not to be stuck in the ‘always has been, really should be’ trap? Over the last little while it has become very clear that tomorrow is never guaranteed. I need to act now or I might miss out. And I hate to miss out!

This wondering and realization has me making a point of finding more time to spend with my grandson, Damon (and his parents), and to go and see my Dad for a few days. We are presently planning Dad’s 90th birthday party. We need to have some fun and connection doing that, because there are no guarantees.

While all this may be sounding a little maudlin, it isn’t really. It is spurring me on to work on one of my ‘growing edges’. Time management. Looking at time management in a new way. Usually, when people are working on their time management skills it is so they will be more productive at work. Yes, that is a great reason to work at it. For me, it is so that I am not only productive at work, but in my personal life too.

I want to spend as much time as I can with my loved ones, perhaps improve relationships that have become strained or have just not been a priority for a while. The better I use my time, all the time I have, the more likely I will spend the time doing just this.

I also want to do things outside of work that are just for me. I want to do something more than go home after work, sit on the couch and tune out. The theory is, if you plan something with your time, it is more likely you will do it. So, now I plan writing time, reading time, crafting time, etc.

Sometimes it feels forced and I fall back to the default couch potato version of me. But more often these days, my time is better spent. When I was on my sabbatical trip to Scotland, I planned my days knowing there was only so long to do things and that I didn’t know when, or if, I would ever have a chance to get back. Didn’t want to miss an opportunity. So, I didn’t. Each day held a possibility. Each day, I tried to grasp it and make the most of it.

Trying to step back into that Scotland mindset in my every day. Because each day does hold a possibility, even here at home. Now, I am trying to grasp them every day. Some are small, some are large. Each day can be an adventure, both at work and at home.

God provides each day. God provides the possibility inherent in each day. God is with us in each day. God wants an abundant life for us, each day. Who am I to let God’s gift go to waste?

Join me. Carpe diem. Seize each day as a gift from God. Live each day as the gift it is. Grab every day, every moment. God will seize it with you.