Living in New York City, it seems like we all pride ourselves in efficiency. In analyzing the numbers. In getting one thing done after another as soon as possible. As well as possible. As excellent as possible. We don’t like to waste time. After all, time is money. And we just want to go out there and give it our best shot 100% of the time.
I think a lot of people like to think this way because after all, time is valuable and everyone’s lives are limited. Everyone would love to make the most of what they have on this beautiful planet and to live life to the fullest. Nobody wants to waste time at all.
But sometimes, it’s nice to just settle down a little bit and go through life without a ticking clock in the back of your mind. Without needing to acquiesce to some sort of self-inflicted deadline. Or the need to analyze the cost versus benefits of different types of projects.
Sometimes, it’s okay to leave room for a little bit of spontaneity in life. Sometimes, it’s okay to stay home and read a good book or just be alone with your thoughts for a while. Sometimes, it’s okay to go through life without a plan or without a set schedule. Because after all, plans can change, and no one can predict what the future will hold with absolute certainty.
I’ve been toggling back and forth between being efficient and letting my mind just aimlessly meander about. I do admit that everyone has their own responsibilities in life with career, finance, relationships, health, and family. Everyone’s got a lot on their plate these days, so it’s practical and understandable to want to grab life by the horns and make use of every single second that comes to you in life.
To wring out every drop of value that life gives you and to be optimal and to be as efficient as you possibly can. After all, everyone wants to live up to their true potential and to be great at what they do. And to do that, you need to maximize your time every single day for the important edge that you get out in life.
At the same time, though, people also need downtime. And there’s nothing wrong with sitting alone by yourself contemplating the intricacies of life and nature. There’s nothing wrong with going thru the motions or just going thru the day with absolutely no plan at all. Sometimes, it’s okay to let your mind wander and see where it takes you.
The mind is a beautiful tool. Of course, like most things, it can be a double-edged sword in that it can bring you lots of joy and fulfillment. But it can also cause much pain and anguish if used improperly. So, it is important that we nourish our mind and let it air out so to speak. Don’t be so hard on ourselves and it’s okay if we are a little bit inefficient sometimes. It’s okay if we are not as productive as we thought we would be on a particular day. It’s okay if we lose out on a project or fail that interview.
Things happen. Life will go on. And I think the more experience we accumulate throughout life, the more we understand that life simply does not go as planned. Nobody ever has one day go exactly as he or she thought it out. There will always be inevitable bumps and bruises along the way. And we just have to accept it and learn to deal with it given the circumstances.
So sometimes, it’s okay to take the long and winding road even when the straight and narrow path is right in front of you. It’s okay to take a detour in life. It’s okay to postpone that important goal you had in the future. It’s okay to not do anything at all. It’s okay to make mistakes and have things not go as you planned originally planned it to go.
More often times than not, life is not a straight-line path upwards. It is the long and winding road that goes up and down, left and right, north and south, sometimes in circles, and sometimes you honestly don’t know where it will lead you in one year or one decade’s time.
Life is beautiful. But life can get in the way sometimes. You never know what the future holds, so it’s important to accept that not everything is what it originally seems. Not everyone will accept you for who you are. Not everything will go as planned. Not every goal or wish will be fulfilled. You will not be able to scale every mountain. You will not be able to win every game played. You will experience loss and heartbreak and sadness at times. These things will come. And they will go.
But at every turn, there will always lie an opportunity. Something new to grasp. Something new to look forward to. It may not be what you originally thought it out to be. Yet, it is there. So, it’s okay to simply let life happen to you. Don’t overthink. And wander to your heart’s content.
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