President Abraham Lincoln, during a discussion with one of his aids, told the following story while in The White House:
A witness in court in a neighboring county, who, on being asked his age replied, “Sixty.” Being satisfied he was much older, the question was repeated, “The court knows you to be much older than sixty.” “Oh, I understand now,” was the rejoinder, “you’re thinking of those ten years I spent on the eastern shore of a neighboring state; that was so much time lost, and don’t count.”
How much time have you wasted or lost… time that now “does not count?” Time for which there was and is no positive contribution and return?
Think about it… and think cumulatively… an hour here and an hour there… a day here and a day there… a week here and a week there… a month here and a month there. Soon we are talking a year here and a year there! Think about it from the perspective of an experience here and an experience there… a job here and a job there… an assignment here and an assignment there.
Unfortunately, we all waste and permanently lose time that we will never regain. It is an undeniable fact of life. And by the way, I am not referring to time with family, time with friends, time to think, time spent intentionally relaxing, engaging in and enjoying productive recreation while recharging our critical mental, physical and relational resources.
The question is… how much time have we, and do we waste and lose for which we have absolutely no positive, productive return? Gone forever… never to be returned… and forever wasted! A close and very serious examination of the personal and professional time spent by many people would reveal significant waste… no positive, productive return whatsoever.
Of course we also permanently lose the time in which we were and are productive and creating value for others and ourselves. The huge difference is that this time was and is time well spent, well invested… with positive, productive, lasting return and legacy.
Are you willing to spend and invest a little highly productive time that will pay great dividends for the rest of your life? If your answer is yes, take a serious mental trip through your personal and professional life… last year… the last 5 to 10 years… the last 20 to 40 years… or whatever is appropriate for you.
What is Your Age…
In Terms of Time Well Spent???
An excellent question to ponder carefully… and then do something about… while you still have time!
Chronological age is far less important, in my opinion, than your age… and my age In Terms of Time Well Spent!
