“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

 

The word decide is often used in business, or football, or while shopping. He decided to sell the stock, or he decided to punt the ball on fourth down. I decided on the yellow scarf and not the blue one. I decided on the Alfa Romeo and not the Volvo. I decided on the apple and not the oranges. I decided on the Taco Bell instead of McDonalds. I decided on Dunkin’ instead of Starbucks. All this before we even log on to our computer at work.

Given the time

 Nobody is making me write. I’m deciding to do it. I don’t think there is such thing as a muse. Is sounds romantic and poetic but calling it that is, to me, a form of external attribution. A way of giving your ability to write or not to someone or something else. Hell, no. It is a decision only you can make.

Sounds simple. I decided to write two novels. But the word I want to focus on is time. Time. You see, if it doesn’t take time, it won’t be worth doing. It may feel like it but that is a delusion to keep people clicking away to the next delusion of accomplishment, and the next, and the next. This is best performed phone in hand on the couch via Instacart, while the fridge is empty.

The time given to us is the price we pay to create a lasting physical, mental and spiritual impression on our lives and selves: a feeling of accomplishment. Time cannot be cheated. Don’t think it can be. It is taking its cut of every decision we make and always, always wins.

Time and time again

Not trying to sound morbid here since I’m referring to day-to-day life here. I’ll be the example. It takes time to anything. But time takes back. And that is the reward. The time given us, used, gives back the enjoyment, satisfaction of what we do with it. It is the price we pay to get something out of our day-to-day lives. I think this blog began last night as I settled on the couch after a long-ass week and day at work. I found that I was grateful to be able to do that. Not for the week, really but for all the years raising four kids and hardly ever getting to settle down on the couch. I still appreciate the ability to decide to do that.

That doesn’t mean I’m wonderful person, it just means time makes the rules, and if you leave it all on the floor, and time sounds the buzzer, you will walk off the court happy, win or lose.

Time given us

I decided to write the two novels I blog about. Well, I decided to write my novel called Back outta the World. And a YA novella called Ironjaws. And I have my third coffee novel completed and awaiting revisions. I revised Back outta the World at least three times. Tripio at least that many times. And on and on. It all took time that was given to me. It cost me something I’ll never get back.  But it was time very well spent. I know because I feel a bit of loss in saying that, but I should.

Dude, try Jasper or Grammarly.