Wednesday, July 2, 2014

IWSG: Time. Friend or Foe?


Time.  
We measure it precisely.
We think about it constantly.  
We save it enthusiastically.
We run from it, curse at it, 
and wish we could beat it into submission,
but Time is immortal.


I bet all of us wish we were further along with a project than we are.  Many of us say, "If only I had more time, more hours in the day..."  

Yes, time seems to be the enemy.  How dare it fly by so quickly when we have so much to do??

But time isn't always against us.  How often have you had something good happen unexpectedly because you were in the right place at the right time?  Like when someone just happened to pop up when you were online, and then became a treasured friend.  Or just when you suffered enough and were about to quit, a great opportunity suddenly came along.  Or when you didn't get the chance to do something important---and were so mad---but later came up with a much better idea of how to handle it.  Personally, I got an agent because I accidentally queried her just when she opened her agency and wanted clients. 

So next time you're wringing your hands and cursing time, remember that timing can work just as much for you as against you.  Time isn't the enemy  So try not to stress about it so much!   When the time's right, it'll happen.  :)




This is a post for the Insecure Writer's Support Group, the brainchild of Alex J. Cavanaugh. It exists so the community of blogging writers can share and support each other, blog-hopping to cheerlead and commiserate. To find out more, visit: Insecure Writer's Support Group. Plus, check out the IWSG Website for lots of helpful info and links.

46 comments:

Andrew Leon said...

I don't believe in time.
:P

dolorah said...

I believe the Universe has a plan, even if I don't understand it, and it runs a tight schedule. I've benefited from "the right time and place" more than I care to count.

There are those days though, when everything is just . . wrong.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

It doesn't matter how much time you've got, it's never enough :)
Wonderful post, Lexa. I love the positivity.

Kate Larkindale said...

As someone who NEVER has enough time to get everything done, I wish I could be more philosophical about it.

Rhonda Albom said...

I agree, time can be both enemy and friend. This week it seems to be my friend. :)

Shah Wharton said...


'Timely' reminder to appreciate our time and to see all that it offers. Which is quite a lot! X

The only thing I hate time for it running out. Oh, and little for what it's doing to my face. But hey, who want's to live forever? Not I - I would prefer not to live longer than loved ones.

shahwharton.com

Cathy Keaton said...

I agree. I wish I could bend time to my will, but the Universe uses time in its own way.

Good things happen to those who wait!

ELAdams said...

Time can be so tricky. Often, I have too much time on my hands while playing the waiting game, so I try to keep busy to keep from going crazy. Then literally everything happens at once!

The problem is, when I make non-writing-related plans, something important like an editorial email lands in my inbox on the same day. For once, I'd like the universe to have good timing! :P

Starting Over, Accepting Changes - Maybe said...

I am managing time much better now that it does not matter as much.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Great reminder, Lexa. After all, there's always good times as well as bad times - and timing.

Dianne K. Salerni said...

I wonder how time and I are going to get along in the fall when the girls go back to school and I don't. Obviously not teaching is going to leave me with more time hanging around, but will I be able to organize it, make use of it, or will it end up squashing me into depression?

Luanne G. Smith said...

Yeah, I'm wondering about my timing today too. And I think you got an agent for more reasons than just good timing. ;)

messymimi said...

Time behaves or not based on whether i manage me! That's what i've found out is true for me.

Chemist Ken said...

Yeah, I usually think that time is against me when I write. It's nice to think about how time can be good to us too. Thanks for the inspiration.

Catch My Words said...

Good point. I have the time, I just don't use it well.

http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

Loni Townsend said...

I was at the point where my lack of writing time was causing frustration. So I took a vacation. Things are looking better now.

Loni

Carol Kilgore said...

I probably needed to read these words just about now. So the timing was perfect :)

Cherie Colyer said...

Even if the days were longer, there wouldn't be enough time in them. Great post. =)

Anonymous said...

What an uplifting post. Thank you! I suppose it's all how we chose to look at things. Some people tend to see the negative while others choose to see the positive. For me, I try my best to see the positive but when I don't, time reminds me I have no choice =P

Elsie

Jeff Chapman said...

Cool post. Whether it's for us or against us, time is not going away. We have to find a way to work with it.

SK Anthony said...

Now, this is a timely post!

Time runs out, but I've learned (at least for this week) to enjoy whatever I do get to do. Luck and time is a good way to look at it. For example, last week I had a few hours unexpectedly free and I thought, "Oh! I could do some serious revisions!" but nope, I took a nap instead and guess what? No regrets. I needed that nap lol

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

I was reading along fine until I got to the part where you said someone pooped online. I took a second look, but not quick enough because you obviously fixed it and now it reads popped. I know it said poop the first time. People really are a mystery, eh?

Some would say I'm procrastinating, but we know I'm really enjoying time.

Sherry Ellis said...

The Universe unfolds the way it should. It's funny how things always seem to happen at the right time - exactly when they should happen!

Birgit said...

We put so much pressure on ourselves. You are right and it is due that we want time to move faster so we get to our destination quicker. Patience brings rewards. people also always make time to go to their coffee shop before work(here it is Tim Horton's)

Cathrina Constantine said...

Time can be a bane to each of us in different ways. But I truly like what you wrote about being in the right place at the right time. Perfect!

Natalie Aguirre said...

That's a great way to think positively about time.

stephen Hayes said...

I agree with you that things happen when the time is right and often there isn't anything we can do about it.

Julie Flanders said...

I am constantly whining about time so I needed to read this. Great post for IWSG, Lexa. :)

Nancy Thompson said...

I find, just when I think my time has come, that someone has turned the hands of the clock back on me. Story of my life! But I've learned to roll with it.

M Pax said...

I just wish it'd slow down a tad. The months seem to fly by.

stu said...

I write the kind of thing where time travel is always an option. It makes things easier.

kimlajevardi.com said...

You're right, but it rarely feels that way. Yet another thing we can't really control.

cleemckenzie said...

Maybe we should strike a bargain with Time. It won't run out if we use it well.

Nas said...

Great post. Yeah! Time. If only we had more of it! We are greedy, aren't we?

Jennifer Hawes said...

I'm always wishing I had more time and less interruptions! But you are right about letting things go and not stress so much. When it's the right time, it will happen. Thanks for the encouragement!

Elise Fallson said...

I feel like it's never gonna be the right time for me. Wish I could literally make time. Can you imagine how rich I'd be? Ooooo!! Story idea, BAM! :D

Beverly Stowe McClure said...

My time seems to rush past too fast and I wonder where it went. I try not to waste time, but I do.

Catherine Stine said...

Good reminder about the positive aspects of the ticking clock. I try to run my life to some extent by intuition, which does involve sensing when it's a good time to take care of something--and when it's not.

Robin said...

For everything bad there is something positive. I think maybe the key is keeping a good attitude. That way you see like as working for you and not against you.

Georgina Morales said...

You are so right, Lexa. I guess we keep going against time in an attempt to feel in control when all around us things are out of our hands. The clock gives this mistaken idea that you can beat it, you can outdo it. It's good to remember that is a fight we'll never win. It's better to enjoy the road instead of rushing through it. :)

Anonymous said...

You're so right. During those moments when I think I'm wasting my time or wish things would get done faster, I find great people and opportunities.

Ava Quinn said...

Beauty! Thanks for twisting this to the positive, Lexa! Well done and much needed!!

Unknown said...

Too bad we can't buy the stuff in a bottle. Wouldn't it be nice if we could spritz ourselves with a bit of time when it suited our current situation? :)

Suzanne Furness said...

You are so right and this is something I probably need to be reminded of right now. Thanks for helping me see things a little clearer.

Elizabeth Mueller said...

Hehe, my post is about time as well. ;) SO much to do, so little time and knowing how to use time wisely has been a challenge. Great post, Lexa!

♥.•*¨Elizabeth¨*•.♥

DMS said...

Very interesting post. Time does play an interesting role. I often wish I had a few more hours in the day to get things done, but I suppose even if I got the time it wouldn't be enough. :)

I totally agree with you that sometimes we think time is against us in some way- but it actually works out in our favor. Life is so amazing. Glad you queried your agent at the right time. :)
~Jess

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