Making Time for What Matters

I hate to admit it, but I have not always been a good steward of my time. I've often squandered it and acted as if I had the ability to create more.

Years ago, I had someone place 8 dimes in my palm and asked me to remove the coins that represented the decades I had already lived. It was no problem sliding three dimes onto the table. When I looked at the 5 coins remaining, I thought I had a lot of time left.

Each dime represented a decade and she gave me 8 because the average life expectancy for an African American woman living in the United States is just under 80 years.

Recently, I revisited this exercise and I had far fewer coins in my hand and it was a sobering reminder that time is not on my side!

Far too often, my activities weren't aligned with my values, and I found myself saying yes to things that either didn't serve me or felt too much like an obligation.

Recently, I said yes to an opportunity that initially worked for me. It was something I enjoyed doing, but my business, The Beauty Boost Nashville, was growing exponentially --more so than I thought it would!-- and all of this was happening at the same time as the release of my second book, Following Your North Star. My good friend, Tanesha, who always shares her wit and wisdom freely with others said, "Sis, remember if it's not making you dollars, it doesn't make sense!"

The truth was I was losing business opportunities with the time I was devoting to this other endeavor, and it was draining me energetically! It was time to walk away.

But I was afraid!

Afraid of disappointment.

Of going back on my word.

Of not being enough!

But time is finite and something had to give, so I walked away and I promised myself from this moment forward that I would remember the dimes I'm still holding in the palm of my hand and I'll spend them on only those things that bring me joy!