How do you make time for what matters to you

[fnfredux]

Myself no, I look at what others have and while many have a lot more than I, they also have the worries that go along with it. I have seen time after time people I know that instead of concentrating on real values, made the main objective of their lives amassing THINGS.
It turned out in the long run, they never really got the enjoyment out of those things(or assets) that they expected they would. Along the way they passed up many joys, hours they COULD have spent with their kids and family, given up in the quest for more material goods.
I know that compromises must be made and time is TRADED for an hourly wage/salary. People must work longer and harder now than 30 years ago and have less in their paycheck at the end of the week.
Times are tough, how do you guys make time for what you feel is most important?

[leera]

With this busy time of year,I'm working 40 hours,getting home at 1 or 2 am,and not getting much sleep.

I value what little free time I do have and spend as much of it as I can relaxing.I enjoy reading,walking,and writing,and if I'm in the right mood,I'll get my camera out and take some artsy shots.

Although this morning has been spent cutting up a slab of beef into steaks and getting it prepped for the freezer.I still have 20 pounds of chicken to divide into meals and vac.seal too......I need to leave here at noon to take hubby to work and then I'm off to work myself.

[madmac]

Their is a lot to be said for a frugal lifestlye. I found this way of life late but now that I am living it I sleep better and find the simple things mean so much more. It seems I have more time as well. I had all the toys, and the credit card debt to go with them. I couldn't sleep thinking about the bills. When I did have free time I was too tired to enjoy much. I worked two jobs to keep up. Now when I get home I relaxe, enjoy my wife and our conversations have true meaning not like the ones we had when we were burried in bills. The material things of this world will wear you down and in the end they mean nothing.

[walls0stone]

I agree. I knwo some very very wealthy folks who do nothing but spend the free time they do have worry'n over who is try'n to mess them over. I'm NOT Poor myself..but I live like you do. The other thing about "free time" is that it is not what would also be my Fun time. I Love to work..I love to cut wood with my Father, I Love to work my garden with my wife. I love to gather Eggs with my little girl. I love my jobs and tasks..I love to feed cows and even when it's bad outside or I'm up to my neck in the worst of it all...I still LOVE what I do and that helps me to sleep. :)

[MotherCharlotte]

How do I make time for what's important to me? Well, there are only so many hours in a day (no matter how often I wish I could tack a few extra on there). So really the only way to have time for important things is to get rid of unimportant things.

I find that more and more as I age (I am 30, and so the last 10 years involved a lot of personal growth) the more I feel that life is just too short to waste on unimportant things. It's so easy to fall into the trap of being busy all the time, working all the time, doing what everyone else is doing, but I believe I can find much happiness in finding the things that matter to me and focusing on that.

I have had times in my life where I had a decent amount of money, and times--like now when I have stopped working to be home with my kids--when we are living under the poverty line. But I can very honestly say that I feel happy being poor, because it makes me appreciate every little thing, and it makes me realize what things are important. It also forces me to be more creative!

I would do without an awful lot to be able to take care of my kids myself. And I avoid other things to have more time to care for them and the house--I do not watch tv, I do not read the newspaper, etc. I do however read a lot of books because that is important to me.

I will admit, I don't spend as much time as I could cleaning the house in order to have the time to homeschool my kids. So the house looks kind of crappy most of the time--but we're together, and we're happy. It's all about compromise. You have to figure out what's important to you--and then do it!

[flatwater]

prioritize is what you do. God ,family, yourself, friends , job. To many people think they need to live to work instead of work to live. I told my boss once that my real life starts when I get home.
flatwater

[ozarksnick]

People must work longer and harder now than 30 years ago and have less in their paycheck at the end of the week.

This statement is absolutely and completely untrue.

Folks choose to work harder and longer now, but they do not need to.

Folks choose to because they've bought the consumerist lie that they need many things that they do not actually need.

But as to your original question, I make time for what matters to me by making time for what matters to me.

I now work about 17 hours per week at a "regular" job. This provides more than enough coin for my family's needs (including payments on two houses).

I can do this because I've recognized consumerism's trap, and I know what I truly need and what I only want.

My family and I work to provide as much as possible of what we need on our own. And we are constantly seeking to learn how to provide more.

We choose what it is that we want very carefully. And we are constantly seeking to better understand the true cost of the things we want.

[walls0stone]

well I work cuz life is expencive. they jacked our taxes up around here by 0ver 100%, let my wife go from her job and now I need to buy health insurance...and life is costly. I don't want to spend my whole life fixing CRAP cars that are paid for. One must find a ballace between live'n for the man, and being a slave to stuff that may be paid for but is past it's prime.

I'll agree with the consumerism crap..but I know that I'll be forced to work my whole life to keep things alive for my family...would be easyer to live if I didn't need to send half the profits from my business to the wellfair rats eather.

[ozarksnick]

well I work cuz life is expencive. *they jacked our taxes up around here by 0ver 100%, let my wife go from her job and now I need to buy health insurance...and life is costly. I don't want to spend my whole life fixing CRAP cars that are paid for. *One must find a ballace between live'n for the man, and being a slave to stuff that may be paid for but is past it's prime. *

I'll agree with the consumerism crap..but I know that I'll be forced to work my whole life to keep things alive for my family...would be easyer to live if I didn't need to send half the profits from my business to the wellfair rats eather.

Life is expensive because you make it expensive. I'm sorry, but that's the bare truth. Who was it that said that God gave man an easy life but we've screwed it up by lusting after luxuries?

You mention motor vehicles specifically. From the way you worded your statement it sounds as though you purchase vehicles on credit so you can have a new vehicle. But no one in this world needs a vehicle at all. They are a luxury. They are a want.

And if that's what you want, then so be it. All the more power to you. I have no problem with folks that make a conscious choice to own a motor vehicle. Just don't try to fool me (or anyone else) that it's something you need.

Oh and a PS-

Walls said: "One must find a ballace between live'n for the man, and being a slave to stuff that may be paid for but is past it's prime."

Which is one very big why I choose not to use any motorized machines in my life. Motorized machines will wear out, which means I have to earn more money to replace them. My human powered machines do not wear out (as long as I take care of them), and the parts that break can be made by me from material readily found in nature.

All of which means that the balance of my life between "live'n for the man" and myself is leaning much much heavier in my direction than the man's.

And another PS- No one is forcing you to do anything except for you alone. It is your choice to spend the money to live the way you do. You can't blame anyone but yourself.

[madmac]

You make a few good points but you are wrong about needing a motor vehicle. Many need one due to the type of work they do. Many need one due to the fact their health won't permit them to walk or ride a bike. many have bought in rural areas and need one to get to town, sometimes 40 or 50 miles away. I guess you must walk everywere or ride a mule/horse or other type of pack animal. If you ride a bike you need parts. If you are using animals for transport you probably won't find parking in the city. i think it's pretty easy to tell the other guy he is living above his means and is materialistic but some of us work in the city, rely on transportation for work, not just to get their but for the job and have not the lifestyle you claim you have. How would I transport prisoners to and from court and between two jails 70 miles apart. What would I do if one jail called saying they need me to assist as it is 80+ miles from my house. Your perfect world probably only works for about five percent of the population.

[ozarksnick]

You make a few good points but you are wrong about needing a motor vehicle. Many need one due to the type of work they do. Many need one due to the fact their health won't permit them to walk or ride a bike. many have bought in rural areas and need one to get to town, sometimes 40 or 50 miles away. I guess you must walk everywere or ride a mule/horse or other type of pack animal. If you ride a bike you need parts. If you are using animals for transport you probably won't find parking in the city. i think it's pretty easy to tell the other guy he is living above his means and is materialistic but some of us work in the city, rely on transportation for work, not just to get their but for the job and have not the lifestyle you claim you have. How would I transport prisoners to and from court and between two jails 70 miles apart. What would I do if one jail called saying they need me to assist as it is 80+ miles from my house. Your perfect world probably only works for about five percent of the population.

I never said that folks should not have motor vehicles.

I said folks need to recognize it for the choice that it is.

You were not forced to work at a jail that requires you to transport prisoners. No one forced anyone to live 50-60 miles from the places they want to go.

It is all choices that people make.

I'm just tired of folks claiming they're being forced to do some one thing or another, when in fact it is a direct consequence to the choices they've made.

PS- I walk and ride a bike, and I live no more than about a mile and a half from just about anywhere I could possibly want to go (on a regular basis). And I live in the country. I have chosen how I want to live and I made choices that allowed me to find myself in the position that I am now.

And some day very soon I will probably choose to own a motor vehicle again for a short while so that I can make a few trips the wife and I want to make.

But I recognize it as a choice that I am making. And I will willing bear the cost of that choice.

And another PS- I don't appreciate the "life you claim to live" attitude. You're welcome to come visit some day and see for yourself, just drop me a line. I live in southeast Kansas.

[madmac]

It's funny. I thought you would resort to this answer. Let me ask you this. Did you sleep good last night? Yeah? Great. I am glad. Lots of folks slept well last night in my town. You want to know why? Folks like me take the responsibility to make sure the bad guy stays in jail, goes to court and pays for his crime. Folks like me contribute to cities, factories, build homes for folks to live in, tools for folks to use, food and clothing for folks to wear. I do not believe in worldly goods that serve no purpose other than to show how much money we have. I do believe some of us have a responsibility to contribute to the advancement of mankind so our kids will not someday be slaves to another country. Science and research would die, modern weapons to defend our country would soon be non existent if we all lived your lifestyle and only worked 17 hours a week. I am happy for you and the fact you have found your peace with this cruel world but not everyone can live such a life. Someone has to be the keeper of the gate. Someone has to care for those who can't care for themselves. Some have no family to care for them.

[ozarksnick]

Science and research would die, modern weapons to defend our country would soon be non existent if we all lived your lifestyle and only worked 17 hours a week.

If everyone lived the kind of life I am trying to live. Staying at home, providing for my family, and minding my own business ... we wouldn't need your modern weapons capable of destroying the entire planet multiple times over again to "protect" ourselves.

I am thankful that there are people to "guard the gates." But it appears to me that for the most part, folks did just fine at that for thousands of years before we had motor vehicles.

[madmac]

Well I guess we could argue this all day but not much sense in that. I admire your ability to do what you do. It's not a perfect world. Even God so states this as did Jesus. They even told us to not live of this world. being the disobediant children we are we didn't listen. As for my modern weapons, they have kept this country safe that we may raise our families, not to be slaves to another country or be seperated from each other. Bless you brother and I have enjoyed sharing opinions with you.

[Walking_Tall]

A friend told me one time, "Jerry, the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing."

Just a simple way of saying, know what is important and whatever is a distraction to the pursuit of that should not become a part of your life.

How do I make time for the things that matter? By trying to avoid things that distract me from my purpose and pursuit, and when necessary, eliminating what becomes a distraction. Easier said than done, but with determination and discipline, it gets a little easier.

[Suzy]

This argument about "things" is exactly the point this man is making....This is my article that was on the bottom front page of our county's weekly newspaper this past week (with a similar article to be in the statewide co-op paper the first week in January)....I don't advocate selling everything and leaving like Randy did but HE DOES MAKE A POINT!

Randy Boehmer knows where he’s going
By Suzy Lowry Geno (from THE BLOUNT BANNER Dec. 3, 2008 USED WITH PERMISSION)

Randy Boehmer may not know each day where his travels may take him, but he definitely knows WHERE he’s going!
The Arizona native has been traveling through Alabama for several days and camped last week along U.S. 231 just south of Oneonta after traveling south on that highway from Huntsville. Folks repeatedly stopped to talk after seeing Boehmer’s two covered wagons and his team of four massive draft mules, And that’s exactly what Randy wants.
So has this man lost his mind? And exactly where is he going?
Randy says it’s really a simple story.
“In the fall of 1990 I met Lee Young. He was traveling from Florida to California in a covered wagon pulled by three pony mules. I bought him his lunch and we talked.”
“He told me the only thing he had to worry about each day was making sure he could find water for his mules every night. I thought that was a wonderful lifestyle.”
“Then my mom died in 1991, and soon after my dad went into the hospital and never got out. My brother Mike and I had the job of cleaning out their house.”
“Our sister said whatever we didn’t want, to just take to the dump! That hit me hard. Here with the tools my dad had, other things he had worked his entire life for and they were now worth nothing.”
“I’d been a taxidermist for about 40 years and I began to wonder exactly what I was working for.”
“Then my wife got cancer and she died in 1998. That’s when I really began reading my Bible.”
“I saw the futility of chasing things in this world. I found out I had to turn from my ways and ask Jesus into my heart.”
In Sept. 2007, he drove his Geo Metro from Arizona to Bedford Indiana with a few of his belongings and his dogs, Shep and Proverb.
He began preparing for what he feels will be a journey he’ll continue on throughout the remainder of his life. He credits the Amish with helping him learn many things. He worked seven months with a farrier to learn to shoe his own mules.
He began building the beds onto a larger wagon, which is his living quarters complete with small wood-burning stove and a small solar panel to power lights, TV, DVD player and more, plus a smaller wagon, which is pulled behind and which carries supplies such as grain for his mules (they eat 75 pounds per day!)
There he also bought Frank and Jesse and learned from their owner had to drive mules or be a “Mule Skinner” as he likes to be called by that old-West term. He’s since bought two more to fill out his team of four.
He left Bedford on April 1 with Acts. 16:31 painted prominently on one wagon’s side.
“I’m simply here for the Word of God,” Randy told visitors last week. “I want to be a testimony for Jesus Christ.”
When asked if he’s affiliated with a “denomination,” Randy says, “I am what’s called a Christian. That’s enough.”
Randy does not “preach.” His message is simple. He says it’s easy to follow.
Although he was featured on three of Huntsville’s four TV stations as he passed through that area and was scheduled to be on at least one radio station in Birmingham, it’s the one-on-one witnessing he does as folks stop to visit when they see his entourage is that he says Christianity is all about.
He reminds that his wife told him right before she died: “Life here on Earth is short compared to eternity.”
Randy says he hopes his simple lifestyle will remind others that “things aren’t important.”
Randy isn’t sure where all his journey will take him. He plans to go south, possibly into Florida, for the coldest part of the winter.
He only gets his mail forwarded from Arizona about once every month or so so he’s looking to develop a web site so folks can keep up with his journeys. A Boy Scout group in Huntsville gave him a refurbished lap top computer and he hopes the winter will give him time for that web site development.
In the meantime, folks can write him at Randy Boehmer, P.O. Box 826, Ashfork, AZ 86320.
While he doesn’t solicit donations, several Blount residents last week slipped paper money into his hands as they left, telling him to buy the mules some grain or use it to help with whatever he needed.
If you were one of the lucky ones who happened upon his campsite on the side of the road last week, you were blessed. He left early one morning, plodding along at four miles per hour reminding, “I’m on a journey, not a trip. A trip ends. A journey goes on forever.”
end

[reyecat]

Suzy.. may I copy that article and email it to my sister and mom?

[Suzy]

Yes, it will be fine if you copy it as long as you list me and where it was published....there should be an article on the alafarmnews.com web site about him the first week in January and then folks can just link to that and send it to whoever they want and there will be photos there too....it honors me that you want to share this! He is really a neat guy!

[reyecat]

Thanks Suzy! I appreciate it... .I will copy it exactly as you posted it.

[madmac]

I am glad to see Randy is doing well. Somehow I knew he would. I was his nieghbor a few years back. I didn't know his wife had died. She was a good women. I once gave him a bunch of snake skins and he made some real nice things out of them to sell. He is a talented person and has a good heart. Loves to talk and share ideas about homesteading and living off the land. I wish him well in his travels

[reyecat]

wow! small world.

[madmac]

Yeah if it's the same guy and I think it is he also had a little burro for awhile. His wagon had car wheels and tires on it. He spent some time in Hillside AZ, would make the trip to Flagstaff every year for a mountainman gathering to sell his goods. He also Spent time in Seligman. I think this is the same Randy I knew. Not for sure though. Their can't be too many folks living this lifestyle though.

[EarthMama]

I am thankful that there are people to "guard the gates." But it appears to me that for the most part, folks did just fine at that for thousands of years before we had motor vehicles.

Ozarksnick, I struggle with this all the time. People did indeed do just fine at many things for a whole lot of years~ but we're not back there anymore. We're here, right where we are and we've got to deal with the times as they are now.

I've struggled with the idea of shutting the world out and living my own little life here on our homestead but it's never worked so far. At least not for me and my family. Sooner or later the modern world busts down our door and we have to deal with it~figure out how we're going to live with it. And that's simply that.

So while I agree with you 1000% in regards to people not really NEEDING a car and all of that, if things truly were the way they were 1,000 years ago. The truth of the matter is though~ in the world we live in today, we really do need a motorized vehicle unless we live smack dab in the city, surrounded within blocks of everything we need. And even then, as we age, walking a few blocks is going to become more impossible as the years go by.

I guess we all have to find our happy medium, whatever that may be for each of us. For me and my family, we have a 12 year old car that we put about 3,000 miles on per year. Needless to say, we never go far. So we don't burn much gas (no matter what the price of it is), our insurance is cheap cos the car is so old, the license plates are cheap cos the car is so old, and it's made a whole lot better than the new cars of today. So I suspect this vehicle will last us another 12 years~ if not more.

But a vehicle we've got and I suspect always will have~ in some form or another. I really don't think people can do too well without one in today's world.

Just my .02

;D

[bassntrout]

Organize, prioritize, and simplify-- in other words make choices.