Definitions: (1) happening, done, or said at a suitable moment, especially in order to achieve a desired effect; opportune; (2) arriving at the appointed time; well-timed; (3) appropriate or adapted to the times or the occasion; (4) a lifesaver
Balancing Quality: Prepared
Adage: Take the time to do it right, or you’ll find the time to do it over. — John Wooden (1910-2010) American basketball coach
Idiom: There is no time like the present.
Quotes:
• For everything there is an appointed time, even a time for every affair under heaven. — The Bible, Ecclesiastes 3:1
• Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of. — Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) American polymath [eight disciplines]
• Nobody sees a flower – really – it is so small it takes time – and to see takes time, like to have a friend takes time. — Georgia O’Keeffe (1887-1986) American artist
• God … does not recognize earth-time. To the universe, four days is no different than four billion light years. — Robert James Waller (1939-2017) The Bridges of Madison County {1992}
• My hour has not yet come. — Jesus of Nazareth (7 BC-30 AD) Jewish theologian
Note: Do not be forced into something you are not ready for. Be wise in your judgment of the best time to act.
Affirmations:
• I have enough time to enjoy everything I do.
• I have enough time to do everything I need to do.
Reflection: Your pace is not the same as that of another. Respect the pace of others. There is an ideal pace at which we each should proceed. You don’t want to be going too fast or too slow. Your pace may be restricted by your lack of courage, emotional blocks, comfort patterns, and belief systems. Even so, you can only proceed from where you are.
You can accelerate your pace, but it needs to be done globally and evenly, moving forward emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. If you ignore some aspect, you will find yourself out of balance and will have to go back to it anyway.
Consideration: Take the time to do it right. Prepare as best you can so you will be able to do your project to the best of your ability.
When there is a deadline on a job and outside pressures create stress, recognize the balance between efficiency and effectiveness. If you possess a high level of attention to detail, you may have to curb it. Instead of taking the measurement to the fourth decimal, take it to the first decimal. Ask yourself if it is good enough. Good enough doesn’t mean shabby, it means high-quality work under the circumstances. Assess the nature of the job: making cabinets, more accuracy; building a shipping pallet, less accuracy. Know where the boundaries are, but with the awareness of doing it right.
Comments:
• If you are able to see exactly how to fit the luggage into the car trunk, you have a good space sense. Translate your space talent into a time talent by fitting your schedule into the day.
• One of the main reasons to do your best while you’re here, in time and space, is because you can’t go back. You can’t reverse time and do what you should have done previously.
• Since you have all eternity, you can:
◦ give yourself a break.
◦ take the time to find your right livelihood.
◦ find an infinite number of ways to motivate yourself to do your best.
Questions:
• Am I always late or put things off?
• What does it take to have good timing?
Note: Pay attention to organization, prioritization, focus, and vision. A good way to motivate yourself to be on time is to have concern for the people who are waiting for you. Graciously break off from the current appointment to get to the next one on time. Turn on your consideration switch.
Symbols: 1) a clock; 2) a river; 3) a spindle; 4) the wheel