The Impact Of Time
Seize the moment, and the rest will follow.
I do this every year.
Here it is, December 5, 2023
I’m looking forward to my annual meeting with myself. It’s like having a board meeting just for me. It occurs annually between December 26th and December 30th, from 8 am to 5 pm every day except Saturday and Sunday. So, this year it’s only four days. Here’s my agenda:
Develop personal, relationship, retirement, and business goals.
Personal
Things that will help me become a better person, husband, father, grandfather, friend, Mason, business person, and leader.
Relationship
The issues to consider include goals with my six children, fifteen grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren — further developing the friends I have and the ones I want. Anticipating ways in which I can be more helpful to them.
Retirement
I’ve tried to retire six previous times. Finally, on September 1, 2021, I retired with just investments left in old businesses. My retirement years are about ensuring my legacy, ensuring that I have solid relationships, and having set about providing for those important to me.
I’ve chosen to write. I've written six books since I began writing in October of 2021: a memoir, two novels, and three children’s books. I’ve written over three hundred and fifty articles on Medium in various publications. Today, I serve as an editor for Dancing Elephant Press and the writers who share their work.
In 2024, the two novels and four children’s books I’ve sent to my publisher will see the light of day (unless unforeseen circumstances exist).
Business
Other than completely closing the last business I sold, I will have no more businesses to own, run, and lead. However, one of my daughters started a business in 2021. So she’s gone from a zero startup with no debt to a substantial six-figure income without debt. She’s asked for my help with an acquisition and growth plan. So, of course, I will.
I also use this time to pursue my hobbies, woodworking, writing, and the preservation of clocks.
As I write this article and look about, I can see eleven clocks, not counting my cell phone and wristwatch. Except for the two guest bathrooms, each room has at least five clocks. Our master bedroom has 12. Our family room has nine, and the kitchen has 6. My Cadillac-themed garage has 10.
I’ve always been fascinated by time. My parents died at 42 and 44. They ran out of time — my sister was nearly 60, and my brother was 64. Until my 42nd birthday, I felt I would be dead about at 42. When 44 and 48 came, I decided to make every decision count. We only get to be here for a certain amount of time. Everyone has an expiration date, and we don’t know what it is. Not knowing exactly the hour or the day, it’s best to live every minute to its fullest.
My brother from another mother, Gavriel Sanders, likes to say, “You never really know the power of an hour until you fully live the minute within it.” He’s right, you know.
I’ll leave you with these thoughts, “Do you want to spend the rest of your years, months, days, hours, and minutes doing exactly what you do now? Is it the life you wanted for yourself?”
Seize the moment, and the rest will follow.
Since October of 2021, I’ve developed a group of followers that have made me a better writer. Their feedback has been an immense help. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. A partial list of these are:
Dr. Gabriella Korosi, Rick Allen, Michael Rhodes, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, Dr. Preeti Singh, Annelise Lords, Libby Shively McAvoy, Garima Sharma, Terry Day, Indirah Ambrose, Jessica Levine, Lisa Precious / Smiley Blue, Mousami, Warren Brown, Gary L. Friedman, James Boylan, Toni The Talker, Dr. Fatima Imam, Jan Sebastian 🖐👩🦰
I went back six months and found hundreds of people, but I wanted to single out those above as frequent flyers. At this age, I still find my time precious. I know yours is, as well. Thank you for spending a bit of it with me.
Thanks for reading,
✍ — I would greatly appreciate it if you commented to let me know you saw this post. Thank you!
©DR Rawson
Don’t miss out on future stories — subscribe to read.💙