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 that I still am not buying 100%.
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 the heavily tatted and multi-pierced person 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. In fact, this woman asks people on her You Tube channel to consider supporting her future adventures (Wouldn’t we all like such support to just travel?!), and I have a real problem with people who publicly bemoan not having enough money to live on when they are asking people to support their exotic adventures or get new ink in the middle of such an adventure. Can’t wrap my head around that, but again, not my problem, and I don’t 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.
