Twenty more twenty minutes
Whenever we ask Isabel to do something she holds up her little finger and says, “Two minutes.” She’ll go to bed in two minutes. She’ll be ready for dinner in two minutes. She’ll be done with her bath in two minutes. Everything requires just two more minutes.
My life, in contrast, needs twenty more twenty minutes.
It seems everything can be accomplished in about twenty minutes. Sometimes you’ll need two twenty minutes, but for the most part, twenty minutes should do it. We should exercise at least twenty minutes a day. Taking a shower and getting ready: twenty minutes. Making, eating and cleaning up after dinner: at least twenty minutes each.
I am told that to be a good writer I need to be writing at least twenty minutes a day. If I want to be a good Christian writer, I also need to take twenty minutes each day in personal devotion; Scripture meditation and prayer and another twenty minutes (or more) reading inspirational Christian books and articles.
That takes just three hours of my day. What else is on my list?
Water the flowers. Get the groceries. Feed the kids. Give them baths. Finish the samples for the church ladies’ craft night. Finish the thank you notes from Zach’s birthday. Update our calendar. (It still shows July.) Get the oil changed and a car wash. Research bedroom furniture. Call the dermatologist. Do the laundry. Clean the house. Tend the garden. Greet the neighbors. Do my nails. Separate clothes for Salvation Army. Get and send gift for Jen’s new baby. Book a hotel in North Carolina for Jack’s birthday. Make arrangements to visit Tracy in Kentucky when her baby is born. Call back Sarah, Katie, Julie, Carolyn, Mom, Erin … Email customers about August sales. Get stamps. Deposit checks. Pay bills. Get birthday gift for Cameron. Send cards to Claudia, Jennifer, Maria, Terry and Liz.
Okay … so now we’re up to 16 hours. Am I missing anything? Oh …right …
Paint the bookcase. Finalize lesson plans for our sign-language class on Tuesday. Hang the shelves in the basement. Sort through the “clutter closet”. Teach Isabel her alphabet. Read to the kids. QUALITY TIME. Do the laundry again. (I do have two toddlers living here!) Hem my skirt. Get new shoes. Say “hello” to my husband. Call contractors for estimates on finishing the upstairs. Find a new dentist. Research housing opportunities for Mom. Update websites. SLEEP!! Order photo prints. Re-organize scrapbook papers (as if I’ll ever have time to scrap!) Recycle old magazines. Find zoo membership card before Monday …
Yeah … I just need twenty more twenty minutes.
My life, in contrast, needs twenty more twenty minutes.
It seems everything can be accomplished in about twenty minutes. Sometimes you’ll need two twenty minutes, but for the most part, twenty minutes should do it. We should exercise at least twenty minutes a day. Taking a shower and getting ready: twenty minutes. Making, eating and cleaning up after dinner: at least twenty minutes each.
I am told that to be a good writer I need to be writing at least twenty minutes a day. If I want to be a good Christian writer, I also need to take twenty minutes each day in personal devotion; Scripture meditation and prayer and another twenty minutes (or more) reading inspirational Christian books and articles.
That takes just three hours of my day. What else is on my list?
Water the flowers. Get the groceries. Feed the kids. Give them baths. Finish the samples for the church ladies’ craft night. Finish the thank you notes from Zach’s birthday. Update our calendar. (It still shows July.) Get the oil changed and a car wash. Research bedroom furniture. Call the dermatologist. Do the laundry. Clean the house. Tend the garden. Greet the neighbors. Do my nails. Separate clothes for Salvation Army. Get and send gift for Jen’s new baby. Book a hotel in North Carolina for Jack’s birthday. Make arrangements to visit Tracy in Kentucky when her baby is born. Call back Sarah, Katie, Julie, Carolyn, Mom, Erin … Email customers about August sales. Get stamps. Deposit checks. Pay bills. Get birthday gift for Cameron. Send cards to Claudia, Jennifer, Maria, Terry and Liz.
Okay … so now we’re up to 16 hours. Am I missing anything? Oh …right …
Paint the bookcase. Finalize lesson plans for our sign-language class on Tuesday. Hang the shelves in the basement. Sort through the “clutter closet”. Teach Isabel her alphabet. Read to the kids. QUALITY TIME. Do the laundry again. (I do have two toddlers living here!) Hem my skirt. Get new shoes. Say “hello” to my husband. Call contractors for estimates on finishing the upstairs. Find a new dentist. Research housing opportunities for Mom. Update websites. SLEEP!! Order photo prints. Re-organize scrapbook papers (as if I’ll ever have time to scrap!) Recycle old magazines. Find zoo membership card before Monday …
Yeah … I just need twenty more twenty minutes.
Labels: parenting, perseverance, work
1 Comments:
Hee hee! I have my own list. ;) I'm just very glad that I was able to do my nails last night. And update my stamping blog today. And go grocery shopping. And buy flowers and write a card for someone who's mom just died. Yup. I'm feeling pretty good about my time today. Let's see how life goes tomorrow! ;)
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