Live Into Your Time

I took a walk in the woods.  Listened to the geese honking noisily overhead.  Breathed air deep into my lungs.  Felt the Fall leaves crunch under my feet.  Even two nearby dogs incessant barking were beautiful pieces in my reverie. 

We give our time to our jobs, our children, our spouses.  We serve generously.  After all, we are giving beings.

Isn't it interesting that we give time, but if we want time for ourselves, we have to take it.  Taking time feels like we're stealing it.  HEY WAIT A MINUTE!   Wasn't it our time to begin with? 

When do you live at your pace? 

My next story is controversial.

Early in my career, we proposed on a huge training design and development project.  The client wanted us to bid on the training delivery as well.  To deliver training, we would send our high-priced consultants to each of the 300 stores across the US.  Sounds good, but our price would put us in the stratosphere.  Our competitors were not great at curriculum development, but they were way lower priced than us.  Despite informing our client repeatedly we didn't want to bid on the rollout, they kept pressing.

The day came for us to present our final offer to the client.  Our "A" Team assembled.  Beautiful slides.  Elegant presentation.  90 minutes into the meeting and then the moment came.  The client asked, "You get one bid.  Are you bidding on design and development or full rollout?"

The next moment is indelibly locked in my brain.

Ruth, our partner on the project, fielded the question.  Silence blanketed the room.  She pulls out nail polish.  Red.  Opens the bottle and carefully re-paints one nail.  Then another. 

We waited.  No one spoke.  She gave her answer, "Full project." 

You might disagree with Ruth's approach.  Might say it was an abuse of power or gender.  All I can say is….it was BRILLIANT. 

Ruth made that decision at her pace.  She needed time and gave it to herself.

My description?  Courageous.

Periodically, allocate some of your precious time for yourself, even if just for a moment! 

Try this.  Take a moment now to free yourself from all burdens.  Free from other people's needs and requirements.  Free yourself for just 60 seconds and LIVE into this moment.  Breathe at your pace.  Think about whatever you want.  This is your one minute of personally-designed space and time. 

…….pause……

How was that one moment of complete freedom?  You can accumulate MORE of those every day.  Give yourself 60 seconds a couple times a day!

On my walk, I gave myself a few moments … and lived my life at MY pace.  At the end of my walk, I was smiling from my heart. 

It's YOUR Time.  Make sure you give a some to yourself!