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46 Hours
12 years ago
Hey guys,
I know I'm a quiet sort on FA these days; when I do speak about my life, it's usually on Twitter these days. Back for the most part on 2012 and 2013 so far, work keeps me so incredibly busy that I rarely take the time to do anything else.
And that's just it; the whole work-life balance. I'm currently on a five-week vacation, and I find it's given me time to... reflect. Especially since I'm staring down the headlights of turning 30 very very shortly. I'm kind of looking at my life, the trajectory, and especially recent years and feeling pretty... dissatisfied. And I think that's an okay feeling to have - it means I have the impetus to make a change, and certainly I don't feel like it's too late for that.
So here's the thing - there's so much more I want to do in my life, but like many of us I let work get all my energy now, and everything else gets put to one side as I focus on the 'career'. I tell myself it's okay to reward myself after work with watching TV and vegging out because it's been a hard day, and that thing I want to do in my personal life I'll get to tomorrow, or 'some day'. Well, I'll never get those hours back, and if I can't do what I want to do in that time, I'm screwed.
So I sat down last night and worked it out - with 8 hours sleep, 50 hours work, and necessities aside, I have 46 hours a week in which to live the rest of my life. That's it. And just knowing that feels... empowering. Like, now I can prioritize. Do I watch some random mind-junk on the box, or do I just... do something that will make me truly happy down the road?
There's so much I want to get done. I want to make music, get back to learning the guitar. I want to write regularly like I used to, finally finish off all those books I've (slowly) been working on. I want to learn how to draw. I want to teach myself web-design, and set up my own marketing company. I want to take the national New Zealand bodybuilding title one day and compete internationally. I want to have a nice home, and to be financially secure as I head into 40.
Ambitious? You bet I am. But I discovered this quote recently (thanks Aokmaidu) that really motivates, and describes how I feel:
"If you put your mind to it, you can do it;
If you do not, you cannot -- that is true for all things.
When something cannot be done, you are the one to blame
For not putting your heart into it." - Uesugi Harunori
Or if that doesn't do it for you, perhaps this one will:
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.”
― Les Brown
46 hours. Let's get this started.
- Achilles, September 2013.
I know I'm a quiet sort on FA these days; when I do speak about my life, it's usually on Twitter these days. Back for the most part on 2012 and 2013 so far, work keeps me so incredibly busy that I rarely take the time to do anything else.
And that's just it; the whole work-life balance. I'm currently on a five-week vacation, and I find it's given me time to... reflect. Especially since I'm staring down the headlights of turning 30 very very shortly. I'm kind of looking at my life, the trajectory, and especially recent years and feeling pretty... dissatisfied. And I think that's an okay feeling to have - it means I have the impetus to make a change, and certainly I don't feel like it's too late for that.
So here's the thing - there's so much more I want to do in my life, but like many of us I let work get all my energy now, and everything else gets put to one side as I focus on the 'career'. I tell myself it's okay to reward myself after work with watching TV and vegging out because it's been a hard day, and that thing I want to do in my personal life I'll get to tomorrow, or 'some day'. Well, I'll never get those hours back, and if I can't do what I want to do in that time, I'm screwed.
So I sat down last night and worked it out - with 8 hours sleep, 50 hours work, and necessities aside, I have 46 hours a week in which to live the rest of my life. That's it. And just knowing that feels... empowering. Like, now I can prioritize. Do I watch some random mind-junk on the box, or do I just... do something that will make me truly happy down the road?
There's so much I want to get done. I want to make music, get back to learning the guitar. I want to write regularly like I used to, finally finish off all those books I've (slowly) been working on. I want to learn how to draw. I want to teach myself web-design, and set up my own marketing company. I want to take the national New Zealand bodybuilding title one day and compete internationally. I want to have a nice home, and to be financially secure as I head into 40.
Ambitious? You bet I am. But I discovered this quote recently (thanks Aokmaidu) that really motivates, and describes how I feel:
"If you put your mind to it, you can do it;
If you do not, you cannot -- that is true for all things.
When something cannot be done, you are the one to blame
For not putting your heart into it." - Uesugi Harunori
Or if that doesn't do it for you, perhaps this one will:
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.”
― Les Brown
46 hours. Let's get this started.
- Achilles, September 2013.
Besides, I imagine that putting bodybuliding first, and ensuring that you would keep it first, did mean a sole focus on it wherever possible. It makes sense that you wanted to be sure nothing else would overtake getting huge. I don't think for you now anything possibly could, though. It's just unthinkable. I'm sure there were times long in the past where you've considered giving bodybuilding up for other pursuits. Now there is absolutely no chance of that. So you know you can refocus your life without losing your perspective. You know you can widen your ambition without weakening your dedication.
Do not mourn those lost hours, for they were not wasted. Undivided attention helped you attain the dedication you have to your primary goal. But that dedication is safe now, unshakable. Good luck with your ambitions :3
But I have one for you:
Can is not the same as must, but if you can and you must, there's no excuse.
And advanced happy birthday, big guy.