Breathing in God’s Creation is NOT a Waste of Time!
I’m going to share something of which I’m not proud, but I have a point to make.
Back in the late winter and early spring, while sitting home some evenings, I took a dive into a rabbit hole, peeking here and there at a certain person’s YouTube channel, trying to pinpoint the day after a “10-minute” conversation took place. It’s a private matter.
So I went digging.
Oh, the shame and the waste of time…
Comparing the person’s chronological videos, where they said they were and such, compared with a map of a certain… shall we say ” walking trail”, I figured out which video they made the day after this conversation, saying things such as, “Things are going really well. I like this. I’m having great conversations.”
At least one “10-minute” conversation clearly went well.
The truly sad thing, though, is that I wasted my God-given time and energy… comparing chronological videos to a map to determine something?!
Major reality check here!
How many times have I told coaching clients to honor their time as God’s time… because it IS?
And yet, look at this complete waste of time in which I engaged. COMPLETE WASTE of TIME!
Truth be told, I would NOT want to be that person for numerous reasons, but there are SO many ways I could have been using my time for real purpose and not wasting it on someone I couldn’t care less about and with whom I will most likely never cross paths.
Time is our only non-renewable resource.
We are NOT honoring God’s time when we
- Mindlessly scroll through social media
- Binge on reality TV shows ( I’m not saying don’t watch them; just don’t make them part of your daily “diet.”)
- Waste time “spinning” over what someone did (especially when we will probably never know the answer)
- Engage in gossip
- Go down rabbit holes online (like I did) and for what?
What could you and I both be doing that would honor our time as God’s time?
- Write a book!
- Read something that nurtures our soul
- Take a walk
- Call a friend who needs encouragement or write a letter to them
- Enjoying God’s creation
- Take an online class that interests you
We often say we don’t have time to write that book or work out or a bevy of other things, and yet we will sit for long periods parked on social media or simply vegging out or jumping into rabbit holes.
That’s not a way to live nor does it honor our God-given and limited time.
REALLY seeing our time as God’s time–because He gives it to us–is a game changer. I fell short, did not practice what I preach, and I hang my head in shame.
I will most likely never know about the conversation that took place, and at this point, I truly DO NOT CARE.
I’m done with going down rabbit holes. If anything, this shameful (Yes, I will own that is was shameful) deep dive and waste of the time God has given me.) deep dive left me with an “I don’t care” attitude about a few things connected to said individual.
And I DO have compassion for others, even in the midst of my occasional snarkiness.
I have a book to write, another yoga certification to earn, people to serve, and a life to live on purpose, as do you. My free time will NOT be occupied with deep dives that are not a good use of my time.
We each have a limit amount of time in this life and 24 hours in a day.
Use it wisely.
And stay out of rabbit holes!
Amy Walton is a certified grief coach, yoga instructor, corporate trainer, and yogini who currently lives in coastal Virginia. She has one little tattoo, a hole in each ear, and missed her calling as a private investigator (!). Connect with her at amywaltoncoaching@gmail.com.