Time...work or play?

"Lost time is never found again"

- Benjamin Franklin

Spare time. It's something that everyone has at some point or another in life, even if it doesn't always feel like that. It's also something that we try to fill by doing things which we love to do. Maybe it's the gym? Maybe shopping? Whatever it is, the idea of us having time spare is something that we have come to try and avoid, and so we fill it with lots of different things. Personally, I love those times when you have time to yourself and you can just unwind and think about...well...nothing. But that's just me.

Since writing these blogs, it's funny how many people have asked me, "Where do you have the time to write those?", "Aren't you busy?" Well, the answer is... yes, I am busy and there's always plenty of work to do, always something I could be doing to fill my time. There's always something we could be doing. But I enjoy writing, I enjoy writing these blogs and so, to me, I will always find time to do it.

When I was in High school, one of the projects I headed up was running the annual school production. It was something I had always wanted to do and with a love for all things music based, it seemed like something I could really sink my teeth into. Pulling off this production was a huge task. Managing budgets, cast rehearsals, costumes, sets, tickets. This event took all of my time. I lost count of the number of nights that I ended up not sleeping simply thinking of what I needed to do, not to mention studying for A levels too!

People thought I was crazy, taking on this project at the same time as my A levels. The show would be over after a couple of nights, but my A levels, well they would be needed to get me into my career. They would affect me for the rest of my life. So how could I find time to do this production?

The answer... I just did!

I had plenty of time to do my A levels. Yes they were important, and yes I would spend time working on those too. But the production was something I loved, something I had always wanted to do. This was one time chance to do something with my life that others would enjoy too! How could I not find time to do this?

Well, needless to say the A levels came and went, studying took its time and I got onto the course that I needed. Great! The production, likewise, came and went and was a huge success.

So, what's the point of this story?

The point is this. Today, when I pass people who were at the school at that time, when I bump into old teachers or old class mates they don't ask me, "Remember how great your A levels were?" or "What were your A level results again?". They don't say, "Remember all that time you spent studying for your A levels". No, Not at all. What do they say?

It's usually something like, "Remember that show you put on? It was amazing. " or "We were showing your show to the new Year 7 pupils. It was a great success!"  I love it when people say that to me, and I love that people still talk about it.

You see, the time I spent doing what I loved had a far greater impact on people than the time I had spent on things that were just work. Work comes and goes and we give that our time, but how often do we give up our time to do things we really love? Those things that really will last?

It's funny how often in life we can let our lives fill up with so many different things which, let's be honest about it, in the long run aren't really going to change peoples lives or have any real impact. How many times have you spent hours and hours of your time on something which really wasn't very important, or spent your time on something that in one quick move was replaced?

So I end with this thought.

In life we will always have things that come to take our time, things that demand we give up time to ourselves to get something done. Work is certainly one of those times, and that's ok. We all need to work, and spending time working is just part of all of our lives. But it is just that. A PART of life. It's not all there is to life.

In life, find times to do those things you love. Maybe a hobby? An idea? A dream? There's a famous saying to describe the way people live their lives, a saying that recently I have come to appreciate;

"In life there are two types of people; those who live to work and those who work to live."

I wonder which one you are? All to often, I can fall into the first category, spending my time working. But more recently I've tried to change the way I live my life. Work is great and I enjoy the challenge, plus it brings money! But what's even better is working for money which means you can follow your dreams and do those things you love. I work to live. And I hope that more people can start to see life like that too.

Today, take some time to yourself. Life isn't something we have to simply spend working, but it's a gift for us to explore. So take some time, put your feet up, you never know where your life will take you!

Bywyd sydd yn byw! - Just living life!

RM