Regret is a painful thing. We all have them, some from poor choices, opportunities squandered, and a lot from just not taking the time. 

In recently took a day and spent it with a college friend. Yes there were things I probably should have gotten done around the house etc., but taking the time is always worth it. 

Rushing around is a cancer. It slowly starves us of experience and life, of relationships and events. Rushing around usually ends with me sitting somewhere doing nothing of value. I mean I slowly rewatched Breaking Bad over a couple months. For the 3rd time. It’s great and I enjoyed it I guess, but what was the point of that? 

I’m not sure if it’s the lack of structure and the nature of what I do for a living, but on a regular Wednesday, by 8, I’m almost certainly behind. Behind what I’m not sure. But I’m behind. I rush a quick blog post, run store errands and then look around and it’s 1:00. Then 3:00. Then 5:00 and I don’t want to do anything. 

I get that waking up early is part to blame. If you press the gas at 4:00 and don’t stop for 7 hours, brain power diminishes and sliding into a time suck is inevitable. I digress. 

In 2013 or so I worked for a running shoe company selling to the southeast. At the same time I juggled 2 restaurants and more than a few races. One day while returning emails, I’d had enough. I hit “select all” and then hit “delete”.  5 years of emails gone in an instant. I told my co worker Matt I had done this and he was concerned. “What’s going to happen?  You’re fucked” was his sentiment. You want to know what happened?  Nothing. Absolutely nothing. 

On the end of every one of those emails was someone else. If it was important they emailed me again. I don’t think I received any emails.  

The point of this is simple. We create a lot of what we walk through every day. You may have a Ted from Accounting breathing down your neck, but more than likely not. You’re the Ted. 

Back to the start. Taking the time is how you actually get to live more. Running an extra mile with friends, stopping and talking with your kid, saying yes to a game of ping pong, spending a day with an old friend even thought the logistics seem impossible. Walking to lunch and taking the long way back, going to see a loved one in a nursing home or their house.  It all is living more. 

Taking the time is always worth it. 

#hugsandhi5s