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The Best Gift To Give

Updated on January 11, 2013

Time, used wisely, is a treasure.

It may give pleasure for just a day or may be used with pleasure for many years.

Rocking on the porch on a quiet evening in the golden warmth of summer or the late afternoon of a summer's day, when the shadows have grown long but the light still lingers and there are still bird songs in the treetops, gives me time to meditate - to put things into perspective.

No single season lets me down. Much could be said about the inconveniences of winter in the northern latitudes, of the cold and ice, of the frost and snow that threaten man and creature with hardship and hunger.

Winter often reminds one of whining car wheels caught in slippery ruts, of grinding engines that are slow to respond in sub-zero temperatures, of the hurried pace through slush and sleet, and of freezing fingers, ears and feet.

All of these things represent winter, but I want time to ponder upon such subjects as: "What's so wonderful about winter?" Oh, if someone could just give me a bit more time, I would really treasure it!

Time to contemplate .. - the wonders of winter

Groundhog
Groundhog

The wonders of winter do not end with play and relaxation. The once-noisy chipmunks and groundhogs lie quietly curled in their snug burrows, asleep until warmer weather comes. The geese, ducks and warblers have long since left the naked shrubs and trees in their southward search for sun and warmth. The insects are stilled by the cold. I would like time to contemplate these wonders of winter.

Time to experience .. - winter's wonders

Quail Tracks In The Snow
Quail Tracks In The Snow

Above and beneath the blanket of snow there is life. When standing quietly in the woods or in the backyard, one can hear the tiny chickadees chirping away as they probe for seeds and insects. The woodpeckers hurry from tree to tree in search of eggs and larvae that lie dormant in the fissures of the bark or sealed in their silken cocoons. Hardy crows rendezvous above treetops. Besides the footprints of birds, the snow reveals that weasels, rabbits, fox and deer are out in search of food.

The frozen ponds can be heard crackling and grinding. Here is also the shimmer of a special world of sparkling water crystals that push, grow, shatter, ebb and flow with amazing precision and austere beauty. I want time to experience these winter wonders.

Time to think .. to wonder - Time to feel

snow-kiting
snow-kiting

Ask almost any child tumbling in the snow what he thinks of wintertime. Ask the children shaping a snowman, or the young folks skating on frozen ponds, or the adults skiing down powder-like slopes, or grandfather reading a book next to a blazing fireplace. They may tell you that winter is "fun," "a wonderful time of the year," despite its hardships. I want time to think, to wonder about and to feel the infinitesimal as well as the majesty of winter.

Time to meditate on .. - the marvels of God

Sub-Zero
Sub-Zero

Beneath the snow blanket, the fallen leaves, and the hard soil, also under the bark of trees, under porch steps, in barns and deserted buildings, there is life in the form of seeds, eggs, cocoons, buds, sleeping animals and dormant roots, each holding within itself the promise of life in the spring.

In fact, alive and at work in the winter forest is another world. To a depth of three inches in any square foot of the forest floor can be found organisms to the total of over 100,000,000,000 - about thirty times the human population of the entire earth! Of this total, animals large enough to be seen with the naked eye constitute only .000004 percent! These billions of organisms are busily engaged in transforming fallen leaves and other debris into the gases and nutrients that can once more be utilized by green plants to manufacture food and oxygen. Come spring, there will be food for the trees and other plant life. I want time to meditate on these magnificent marvels of God!

Little Books of Reflection for you

Troubadours, of old, could find the right word or rhyme to fit their elegant verse. Their poetry was set to music and sung. Traveling from town to town, often accompanied by professional minstrels called Jongleurs, the troubadours performed their songs with harp, fiddle, flute, lute, or guitar. In the halls of the rich as well as in marketplaces or at tournaments, fairs, festivals, or feasts, a musical performance was usually a part of any formal entertainment.

Time to reflect on .. - the marvel of the snowflake

Mesmerizing Snowfall
Mesmerizing Snowfall

The very symbol of winter itself - the snowflake is a marvel. These extremely fragile crystals keep their six-sided shapes as they fall thousands of feet through gray skies.

Snowflakes are lacy growths of water vapor formed around minute dust particles in the air. While we do not normally notice this dust, we can see it when it is caught in the shaft of a sunbeam. At the right temperature, when a water vapor molecule attaches itself to a dust nucleus, a snowflake is born. It takes on remarkable shapes as it plunges earthward. Some shapes are delightfully simple and others are fantastically complex, but no two are precisely alike. Some snow crystals form the most beautiful designs in the world. The exquisite lace-like patterns have often been copied for jewelry pieces and fabric designs. "It is a wonder of wonders that the dance of the molecules produces these geometrical designs," said one authority about the snowflake.

Usually snowflakes fall individually, but if the temperature is just above freezing, they might cling together as they fall, sometimes forming a flake four inches in diameter. When enough snow falls, an unusual amount of air is trapped within snow crystals. Men have been known to survive two days buried in snow without suffocating. Because of its air-holding potential, snow makes an excellent insulator, keeping heat in the lower ground levels and preserving seeds from freezing and winter crops from being destroyed. I want time to reflect on the usefulness of this beautiful winter marvel!

Poetry for the mind - vintage books

We no longer have troubadours but we do have many little books of poetry that may appeal to our intellect and stir our emotions. Poetry suitable for a quiet moment at the end of the workday. Poetry to serve the person with literary interests and having an eye open for the beauty of nature. Poetry for the reader who opens it in his most anguished perplexity, his darkest moment, his direct need and despair.

Time to inform myself on .. - the marvel of winter ice

Iced Ivy
Iced Ivy

Another marvel of winter is ice. The mere freezing of water is a miracle staggering in its significance. By all the rules of physical behavior ice should not float. Almost every substance, whether solid, liquid or gas, will shrink in volume as its temperature goes down. Water follows this rule precisely as a gas and, as a liquid, for 96 percent of the way down the temperature range to its freezing point. But at 39.2 degrees Fahrenheit something happens. As cooling continues, instead of shrinking, the water expands. The icy molecules seem to trap air molecules in their frosty structures, freezing into a solid at 32 degrees Fahrenheit, forming chunks of ice that float with about nine-tenths of the bulk submerged under the surrounding water.

If it were not for this phenomenon - this wonder of floating ice - the world's seas, lakes and rivers would slowly freeze solid, depriving the earth of its much-needed water supply. But as it is, when winter comes, ice forms and floats on the surface of bodies of water, forming an insulating skin that protects the water beneath from further freezing and so safeguards the living things there. I want time to inform myself on this and other phenomenon.

Quote by LaraineRose

If you get more done in less time, you'll have more time to do less.

Slow down .... - Take time to organize.

"WHY are you late?" inquired the teacher as Albert walked into the classroom.

"Because I ran alongside my bicycle all the way to school," Albert replied, almost out of breath.

"Why didn't you ride your bicycle?" asked the teacher curiously.

"Because," explained Albert, "I was so late I didn't have time to stop and get on the bike."

This exaggerated, comical story illustrates a situation that many of us face daily. Rushed, with many tasks to be done and deadlines to be met, we may feel that we are racing from one thing to the next. But, like Albert, we sometimes slow ourselves down by concluding that we do not have the time to stop and reorganize for effectiveness.

Nevertheless, we could save time, accomplish more in the long run, and reduce stress if we did pause to sharpen our skills in managing time. Then, instead of viewing time as a relentless master, it could become a helpful servant.

Here are a few time saving tips from the experts.

Need more time .. - sometimes it's a knotty business.

Knot-ical
Knot-ical

There is no early education provided for those not blessed with the organizing gene. Often these people live their lives seeing, being organized as magical. They live with the shame, guilt, anger, defensiveness, and sadness of the disorganized. They want more time.

Would you like to have more time?

See results

Tip #1

Country Road
Country Road

The photos that you see in this article depict where you may go to relax and spend a bit of that time that you have saved by applying what you read here.

'Where did the time go?' How often have you caught yourself asking that question? If you are like most people, you probably ask it more often than you care to remember.

The following presents suggestions from a woman's viewpoint, but since both women and men have the same amount of available time each week, the question, 'How can I get more out of my available time?' is one that both men and women would like answered.

Set Priorities

Since every activity of life takes time, there are some things that just naturally take precedence over others. For example, on a cold winter morning, there is nothing a mother might want to do more than stay longer in her warm bed. But the clock signals that it is time to fix breakfast and send her husband off to work and the children to school.

Priorities also have to be set if your household is to function properly. There is a time to shop for food and a time to cook it; a time to clean the house and a time to do the laundry; a time to relax and a time to get caught up on the news; a time to oversee the children's homework and chores - and the list goes on and on.

Do you work outside the home? If so, with added duties to perform, time becomes even more precious. You cannot afford to waste it, nor can you always put things off for another day. That is why many women acknowledge that a schedule is absolutely necessary if they are to get their work done.

Without a daily schedule, I know that I couldn't accomplish my goals for each day. When I worked outside the home 40 hours a week, if I hadn't had a schedule, I think I would have gone out of my mind.

Furthermore, your priorities are undoubtedly set by the value you put on time itself.

Time flys but you get a lot done.

How do you work well?

See results

A Schedule

Do you honestly think that a schedule might help those who have trouble making time count?

See results

Tip #2

Outlook
Outlook

Organize the Tasks

Why do some women never seem to get their work done? Or why do some always complain about the lack of time? Could one reason be that they fail to organize their work? In past generations it took women one whole day to wash and a second one to iron, while they daily shopped and cooked. In most countries today, however, a woman can clean the house, wash and dry the clothes, and cook simultaneously if she is organized. Modern conveniences have freed many women to work outside the home and still care for the family's needs.

But what about the time spent away from the home? A good part of it, besides the time actually spent working, is spent traveling to and from work, waiting in doctors' and dentists' offices and elsewhere. Could much of this time be utilized? For example, do you knit, crochet, needlepoint, or embroider? Could you schedule some of these talents at such times and places? Many women read, make out shopping lists, or write letters. In fact, the next time you sit down to watch TV, why not do some sewing or make things for the family? They may appreciate these more than store-bought ones, and you will have tangible proof of not wasting time!

There is another side to the matter, however. One should avoid becoming too rigid in trying to exploit every minute. You can become a slave to time, and that will rob you of joy. There are times when one wants to sit quietly and reflect on what one has done. Such moments can be precious indeed!

Love to ........ while waiting

How do you spend time while waiting?

See results

Ahhh .. I need to put my feet up

Do you spend some time doing absolutely nothing?

See results

Balance is needed. You may drive all over town to save a few pennies, only to spend more time and gasoline doing so. Of course, when you are on a strict budget, saving is important. So perhaps shopping in one central store might help. You know where items are (which saves you time), and you know when the sales are on (which saves you money).

It's time to evaluate

What robs you of your time?

See results

A time management tip:

What can help people to solve the problem of wasted time?

R. Alec Mackenzie, a leading management consultant, answers:

"Self-discipline. Before you can master time you must first master yourself.

And the rewards make it eminently worthwhile."

Tip #3

As far as the eye can see...
As far as the eye can see...

Picking the Best Time

Each woman has her own inner clock. Some work best in the morning; others do not function well until afternoon. If you are a morning person, by all means schedule your difficult chores then. Use your resources at your peak periods. If you work outside the home, why not talk to your employer? It will be to your advantage as well as to his to delegate your work accordingly. If, on the other hand, you drag in the morning, save your most important work for later when you function better.

Be Realistic

For a schedule to be practical, it must not include too many activities. Trying to be Super Mom, Wife, or Worker can lead to disappointment and frustration. This is especially true if you have health problems. Learn to work within your limits.

Be Flexible

A test of a woman's mettle is how she manages under stress. If she can stay calm in a crisis, she will accomplish far more than going to pieces emotionally.

I found the secret for controlling stress. When emergencies arise and I feel crowded on all sides, I just relax. I know that sounds strange, but it works. Once I've got myself under control, then I can determine what has to be done first. If I don't relax, I can't set the right priorities. When these are set, then I speed up my activities to meet the emergency and things get done. For example, once some guests arrived hours early for dinner. Instead of panicking, I merely cooked while entertaining them as best I could. All relaxed and enjoyed themselves.

This is a good time for me to get a lot done.

When does your energy peak?

See results

It has been said, "A woman's work is never done." A book that I have found invaluable is "The Use of Time," edited by A. Szalai, (unfortunately out of print). This book, discussing the daily activities of urban and suburban populations in twelve countries, lends some support to this old proverb.

Of women who are employed outside the home, the book says: "The working woman is much busier than either her male colleagues or her housewife counterpart. After her day's obligations are done, she finds herself with an hour or two less time than anyone else, and this pattern again appears 'universally' at all of our survey sites."

I have found other books I wish to share with you because they too are the antidote for the frustration of the inability to create organization. I recommend them to everyone, male as well as female. They provide such a unique interpretation to the word "organized."

Tip #4

In green pastures ..
In green pastures ..

Get Help

Someone once said that the best executive is the one who surrounds himself with competent help. Do you engage the help of others on the job? When co-workers know that their help is appreciated, they volunteer it more readily. The same is true at home. Unfortunately, some women are such meticulous housekeepers and cooks that they discourage help. And that very attitude could be the reason why some wives and mothers are always overloaded while their family members sit around seemingly unconcerned.

Now what about you? When you need help, do you encourage it? Do you ask for help, or do you demand it? "Would you please" sounds more appealing than "I want you to" - whether you are speaking to your children or to your husband.

I really have to commend my husband for the help he gives me. He's really good about that. When I'm not well, he sends me to bed, and he cooks dinner; he pitches in and helps do the chores. I really appreciate that!

The key figure in this situation is the mother. She can train her children to realize the value of time and to develop a positive attitude toward work. Such children will generally want to help because they get joy from contributing to a common family goal.

Needless to say, some people are going to waste time no matter what others say or do. We cannot change them; we can only improve ourselves. We can resolve to be realistic about time, become better organized, set proper priorities, and get help when needed.

If only I had more time!

Would you like more time?

See results

A new form of banking has arisen in Spain. Several local volunteer associations have created "time banks" that exchange services among people. "The 'Time Bank' is the first bank that works without money," claims Elvira Méndez, director of the Spanish association Health and Family.

These banks keep a list of citizens who offer to perform certain tasks such as caring for the elderly, babysitting, cooking, cleaning, or teaching. The unit of exchange is the hour, and all activities have the same value. An hour of teaching quantum physics, for example, is equivalent to an hour of hairdressing or babysitting. The beneficiary pays for the service by performing other tasks, and the time spent is credited to him. Time banks thus seek to organize and encourage the traditional interchange of services that used to exist among good neighbors.

Time - the most valuable gift

A Walk In The Snow
A Walk In The Snow

Of all the gifts I could ask for, the one I would appreciate and highly value above all else is, time. Time to study and appreciate all the wonders of nature. This, I would find most satisfying and it would contribute toward my happiness more than any other gift I can think of.

Adjustments may be needed to make available, more generously, that precious gift of time. Better time management will pay rich dividends now and in the future.

Angel Wheaties

Cariboo Ranching Country
Cariboo Ranching Country

LaraineRose's Guestbook - It's TIME to make a comment.

On the edge.
On the edge.

Will Borden has kindly given me permission to use some of his photographs. For enlarged images of the pictures in this lens please view them in Will's online Gallery.

Some of the photos featured on this lens were taken close to home but because of Will's travels, he is able to offer you a wide variety of scenes. Will's photographs and digital art are available for purchase at: Will Borden - Fine Art America.

CAN IT!

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I thank all who helped me to achieve this great honor.

A lens that I am very proud of: - Awarded the Purple Star and Lens of the Day

Have you got time to make a lens?

It's fun and you can make money too.

If you are interested in how to publish a page like this, it is really quite easy. Just Click Here to begin...open a free account and start your own "lens" here on squidoo on any topic you choose. Try it, you'll like it.

*But, before you leave please take a moment to rate this lens at the top of the page..

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Thank you for your visit. I hope that this page has been helpful, but if not helpful, at least entertaining. The last thing that I would want to do is to waste your time. :D

I will be pleased if you leave a comment and if you do like this lens, please add a "like."

Respectfully,

LaraineRose

working

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