Spending Time

I know there are only 24 hours in a day. We learn that very early on in school. Somehow, as we get older and busier, that just doesn't seem to be enough. When I was in Iraq with the 101st Abn(AASLT) during my second tour, I had an S-3 (Battalion Operations Officer) who used to say that all the time. I can't really remember the circumstances under which he would use it, all I remember was it used to infuriate the staff. But he was teaching all of us a very valuable life lesson. The truth that there is only 24 hours in the day was lost on us then. But now, as a parent of 3 very lively and active children, that fact has come home.

Let me explain. When you watch a one hour TV show, you dedicate that one hour to the actors, station, and sponsors of that TV show. You have made a conscious decision to use that one hour of your life for that specific purpose. Sure, you may fold laundry while watching it, or you may do some other minor chore (laundry for three kids is no minor chore...just a side thought) but you have essentially given that hour of your life to someone else. You can never get that hour back. Have you ever done something that you later thought was a total waste of time? How may hours have you "wasted" by doing things that are unimportant in the grand scheme of things. I recently received an email of lesson learned from a 100 year old woman. One of the points that really stuck out to me was the idea that time is the only thing you can't get back. The way she put it was very simple, "will this matter in 5 years?" That really struck me. My 15 year old will be 20 in 5 years and I wonder if what I just scolded him for will be significant in 5 years.

Lets take this one step further. What will be more important in 5 years, catching the season finally of "insert your favorite TV show name here" or having a tea party with your eager 2 year old daughter? What will be more important in 5 years, having coffee with a friend during lunch or surprising your 1st grader at school with McDonalds? What will be more important in 5 years, getting your teen to bed by 10 or staying up until 1am talking about life and the girl that just broke his heart? I know what will be more important in 5 years for me...do you?

I hadn't intended to make this a serious post but I just spent 3 hours talking with my dad and it dawned on me that although I'm going to be very tired in about 4 hours when the baby wakes up, in 5 years I'll still have this memory, his guidance, and the knowledge that I spent quality time with my father which I may not be able to do then. We all walk this earth for such a short time. Take a little time after you read this to make sure you are spending yours in such a way that you won't ever have to say "I wish I would have....." Live for the sheer joy of living. Spend time with your kids so that in 5 years they will have memories they will carry with them for 50 more. Life is to short to stop having fun and just because you get older it doesn't mean you have to grow up.

I mean really, I'm over 35 (and under 45) and still haven't decided what I want to be when I grow up. Hopefully I'll be a rock star or professional baseball player.