All great stories feature the element of time. And that makes sense, since time is the only thing you will ever actually own. Now is the time to build character.
Why is there never enough?
Stephen Covey has written a gem in the realm of how best to use the time you have. In fact, the first chapter of this book is titled, “Begin With the End in Mind.” It’s a good and helpful reminder that if you really want to live a life that you’ll be glad of, you’d best get to it.
Begin with the end in mind.
Here’s what Covey says in the beginning of chapter one:
“In your mind’s eye, see yourself going to the funeral of a loved one. Picture yourself driving to the funeral parlor or chapel, parking the car, and getting out. As you walk inside the building, you notice the flowers, the soft organ music. You see the faces of friends and family you pass along the way. You feel the shared sorrow of losing, the joy of having known, that radiates from the hearts of the people there.
As you walk down to the front of the room and look inside the casket, you suddenly come face to face with yourself. This is your funeral, three years from today. All these people have come to honor you…“
Today is a window.
What you do today is a window into what you are doing with your life. Because each day gives you the opportunity to build character — which is what this book is actually about. It’s about how you decide to spend the time you have, knowing that your time is limited.
Here’s what’s cool.
And the amazing thing about limits, if you’ll take it seriously, is that there is power in limits. Think of a wide, meandering river. Not super thrilling. But take that same volume of water and press it through a narrow gap above a change in elevation, and you have a magnificent waterfall.
Start where you are.
After all, this is all you can do. Start where you are today. And instead of feeling what may be regret over how you’ve wasted tons of time up until today, take this as a reminder that you are still alive — and start valuing your time.
And please do this.
Follow this link to the book. Check it out. (Perhaps literally). You could check it out from your local library, or buy it from your local bookseller, or download it as an ebook. Spend some time with it, and soon you’ll be valuing your time.
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