The following begins in story form to give you a visual picture of the outcomes your choices can have this holiday season.
It was New Years Eve many years ago. I was making my way along an otherwise deserted street on a dark and snowy night. I pulled my coat collar up over my ears to keep out the biting wind. As I did so, I noticed two buildings to my right. The lights from inside cast shifting shadows on the falling snow. I looked through the windows of each building and saw two very different scenes unfold. As I moved in closer, I could hear voices coming from inside each building. In the building on the left, I could hear lamenting anguished voices. The people inside were the victims of a crime. A crime so wide spread it didn't distinguish between vocation, economic status, gender or age.
In the building on the right, I could hear laughter and enjoyment. These people were steeped in celebration. Interestingly, I noticed that this celebration also was not limited by vocation, economic status, gender or age.
I had a few minutes to spare so out of curiosity I wandered in closer to each building. In the building on the left, there appeared to be a criminal investigation. Something had been stolen, something of great value and worth. The experts had been brought in to question the victims. I could hear the voices through the window. "When did you first notice it was gone?" "Has anything like this happened before?" "When?" It was an obvious search for clues and patterns.
In the building on the right, I could hear through the windows very different conversations. It seemed as if these people had actually found what the people in the other building had lost. Or maybe they had just never lost "it" to begin with. They all seemed content and happy. No regrets. No laments. How odd I mused to myself. What could "it" be?
I continued to listen and it became apparent what "it" was. The group on the left, either lost it or had it stolen from them that holiday season just before Thanksgiving. The group on the right had been guarded, well aware of the imminent danger and had gone to great lengths to protect it. I felt my head spin and my body reel at the revelation of the missing item, the stolen treasure. "It" was... time.
The Holiday Time Thief comes in various disguises. Armed with this information you can develop a plan to join the people in the building on the right New Years Eve. Content, with no regrets.
Common Disguises of the Holiday Time Thief:
- One more event - Do you find yourself squeezing in just one more event? "Oh between 2 and 2:15 am we don't have anything planned, let's say yes to this... " Even if you do have a bit of extra time, that doesn't mean you need to fill it.
- "It won't take that long," or Saying "yes" someone else's request- This causes many people to take on extra responsibilities at the last minute. Rule number one, everything takes longer than you think it will. No matter how much you like someone, or how much you want to be helpful; if it wasn't in the original holiday time plan, you may need to say no!
- Distraction/Procrastination- Don't be deceived. You know when you're being distracted. Don't choose to complete an unnecessary, unimportant task at the expense of the necessary and important ones.
Plan to Avert the Holiday Time Thief:
You must be intentional to avoid being a victim!
- Plan - Get out your calendar for the next two months. What do you want your holiday season look like? Include relationships, work, events, and activities. What will it take for you to be content and finish your year strong?
- Decide - The non-Negotiables. Who are the people you want/need to spend time with? What are the events, activities etc. that you absolutely want or have to do? Write everything down on your calendar. Make sure your list includes both personal and professional items. What will equip you to finish the year strong? Write these down now. The Negotiables - What would be nice but not absolutely necessary? If it's someone you can see at another time, or an activity that will ultimately take away from something more important, then it's a negotiable. (When planning your calendar it's critical you get these two lists right so you aren't deceived into believing that a negotiable is somehow non-negotiable.)
- Prepare - Prepare yourself mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually for a great season! Let others know your decisions in advance to avoid awkward conversations in the final hour. Decide what's important and focus on that.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kaylene_S_Mathews
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