"To be at ease is better than to be at business. Nothing really belongs to us but time, which even he has who has nothing else." That is a quote by Baltasar Gracian. Baltasar was a Jesuit monk during the 1600's and happened to write one of my favorite books, The Art Of Worldly Wisdom.
The book is a masterpiece made up of about 300 maxims and his thoughts on them, giving advice on how to live fully and advance socially. Although the book was written over 360 years ago, many of its ideas still resonate today. In fact, I gave this book to Madison to read while I was home schooling her, and I plan to do the same with Ashleigh. To get back to the quote, I believe he is just stating the obvious. Even so, I think people have to be reminded of this from time to time. I know I do! Oftentimes, I find myself getting thoroughly engrossed in my work. I do research for a living, and I find the work both challenging and interesting. Still it is my work and NOT my life. Sometimes I need to step back and remind myself of that fact. Otherwise I find more and more of my time working on the computer and not doing things with my family. While it is nice to make enough money to live comfortably, it is not really living if you do not set aside time to actually live! Going forward, think about something you would have liked to have done with your family when you were a kid... and then do it with yours! Life is too short not to make memories. Your children's memories should not just mainly be with their friends! Take the time to get to know your children and do things with them. When I am old and dying, I do not want one of my regrets to be "I wish I had spent more time teaching my children what I found important in life." What is important in life to me ARE my children. And I want them to have as many great experiences with me as they can. No regrets people. We are all given the same amount of time each day. Use that time wisely, and make sure to leave some time each week to make memories for both you and your children. THAT is my meaning of life.
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