It is TIME

“How did it get so late so soon?”
― Dr. Seuss

I get very melancholy when the first of December rolls around. As of today, the third of December, there are 29 days left in the year and I always check in with myself wondering if I used my time wisely or I ask myself, what could I have done more of, less of, none of.

Let’s break it down shall we?

There are 365 days in a year. That gives us 8,760 hours, based on 24 hours in a day, to use as of January first. However, even though there are 24 hours in a day, if we adhere to the 8-hours-of-sleep-per-night rule then we actually have 16 usable hours each day to get stuff done which means that in a 365 day year we have 5,840 hours to use in one year. So that means each week we have 112 hours to change the world, or at least change our own personal world. Now, you may add a few hours here and there if you can’t sleep for a full 8 hours or you look at a Saturday as the longest day of the week like I do and therefore stay up or stay out late and let loose. Good for you if you are making the most of those hidden hours.

Continuing on our countdown, there are a guaranteed 28 days per month @ 112 usable hours per week so that gives us an average of 3,136 hours per month to really crank things out and make stuff happen. Add to that the 4 months that add 2 days to the year and the 7 months that add 3 days to the year, that gives us another possible 32 hours in a 30 day month and a possible 48 hours in a 31 day month which means, (deep breath here), an eventual 336 hours per year. Wow, that’s a whole lot of time to use. Looking back over this year I wonder:

*What have you done with all of those hours you were given?

*Did you lose someone special and are afraid to move into the new year without that person? How is fear playing a role in your life as you approach entering the New Year?

*When did you let go of a goal to strive for and make it so that it wasn’t important to accomplish?

*Where are you facing carrying over into the New Year a task or a “to-do” that you wish you had gotten to this year?

*How will you approach this New Year so that the only things you set out to accomplish are the things that mean the absolute most to you?

“There comes a time when the world gets quiet and the only thing left is your own heart. So you'd better learn the sound of it. Otherwise you'll never understand what its saying.”
― Sarah Dessen, Just Listen

Since we have approximately 464 usable hours left in this year how will you use the remaining time? I’m sure I haven’t touched on a lot of the items I had my “to-do” list when this year started and I probably should try to get to them but I HATE the word “should”. I know, I know, I was the one who put those items there in the first place but if I didn’t get to it yet then what was I thinking way back when? Was it fear of failure that held me back? Was it fear of success that held me back?

If I could wave my magic wand and suddenly money was not an issue and gaining weight was not an issue and work and family obligations were not an issue, I would spend the remaining hours of this year traveling and learning about my country and my planet and eat my way through all these wonderful, magical, awesome places. I would fill my heart with life itself, experiences, memories, and tangible learning that would leave an imprint on my soul and become my legacy. I would write my way through each experience and ask you to travel with me and try to see what you see. I would not want to be selfish and only see things from my point of view. So I leave you with this one last question: What will you do with the remaining 464 hours of 2013? It’s your last chance to go out in a blaze of glory……

Action Plan:

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever.”
― Neil Gaiman

Lisa has been featured in Parent Magazine and in the book Stay-At-Home Mom’s Guide to Making Money by Liz Folger. Please visit www.journeyoncoaching.com. or contact Lisa at lisa@journeyoncoaching.com. Coaching is a great vehicle to help you navigate through those sticky, tough, tumultuous times of parenting, career and life itself. If you are thinking about changes for the New Year then choose to have your enthusiasm and determination supported fully. Call to find out how partnering in coaching can help create your best life so far. Call or write to me and let’s start on that journey. Your personal discovery awaits….

*Clock image courtesy of Bing.com