The Clock in Macy's Chicago State St. Courtesy of Dan Ness
You have Time
Life is a marathon, not a sprint. I have been saying that phrase in my head over and over the past few months, probably because I was in training for a Half-marathon and seriously considering a full one next year. It is only fitting that my mindset is about running metaphors these days.
It is also helpful to me in other ways as well, especially when it comes to planning and “getting through stuff.” Planning something is easy: you set a goal, you build in action steps and deadlines, and then you get to work. Life doesn’t always happen according to a plan. Kids or pets get sick, cars break down, banks make errors, whatever the case may be and soon you find yourself in the middle of something. In those moments it is so hard to remember what it is you’re heading for or what end goal you have in mind.
This is true for any area of your life, relationships, money, work, or fitness. Setting goals in any of those areas, or having a dream of what you want to have happen takes time. In fact, everything takes time. To truly cultivate something real and lasting takes time.
Aaahhhh…….I feel the sigh escaping my lips even as I write these words. Take a deep breath and let it out slowly. You have time.
I am by design an impatient person. I probably should have been a sprinter when I was younger, but as I’ve grown older, I see the value in recognizing that it takes time and that having a longer view is a much more sane approach. There are emergencies in life and times when you must move and act quickly, but the majority of things you have to do are not as urgent as you think and being consistent and diligent is what actually pays off, not running and scurrying from here to there in a hurry to do whatever it is you’re doing.
Even job searching and other situations that can make us feel desperate take time. In fact, it is the counter intuitive way to think about things, but surrendering to it and slowing down while moving through the steps can free up the needed energy to let something extraordinary happen.
Nature knows it. Watch a flower grow and bloom from seed to flower. It takes time. A mighty oak tree takes years to reach magnificent heights and develop a deep root system. It’s impossible to plant a tree today and have a huge shaded area tomorrow. It takes time. This may be hard to remember, especially in our ever- increasing fast-paced world, and it is still possible. So the next time you feel the urge to feverishly move in some direction, think again, take a deep breath and let it out slowly. You have time.