F*ck the clock

According to A. Einstein, time is relative.

Well dear Albert, however much I am aware that you are right, I do live on planet earth in 2021 and until further notice, I have 86.400 seconds to spend a day. Nothing relative about that.

Now before you think I have anything against astrophysics or astronomers, think twice. I love what you do and hope you can put many people, currently on earth, on Mars soon. (I am available to share a list if you would be in need of such.) But what I actually want to share is my belief on what matters when it comes to time. What are some fundamentals we all know in the back of our head, but seem to forget on a daily basis. You might agree or not at all. I like and respect it all and all that is in between. Feel free to comment, challenge or teach me what you know. But here I go:

1st principle, get or be a neurotic, obsessive compulsive friend. We all should have her or him in our life. Teaching us the beauty and simplicity of repetition and rules. If we want to manage our time, we need to manage a big chunk of our daily routines as if it we are setting and programming the timer of an atomic bomb. Use a calendar with immaculate precision and exaggerate on planning all routines in the week. Set them to a logical time and distinct provisioned length and you will find how calming this will work. your brain will reward you with less stress and pressure. All it requires is prepared routine.

2nd principle is to stop giving a flying f#@k about most things you worry today. Easier said than done, I know. Do like I did and start with reading this excellent piece of paper on the subject by Mark Manson; "the subtle art of not giving a f*ck". You might also want to watch "the social dilemma" by Jeff Orlowski. (it can help you to focus on what you can do without.) Because most of us are not trucks you can load with 10 tons although many of us like to pretend or believe they are. I believe we should treat ourselves as wheelbarrow's. Being good to those around you. Combine that with a job you do with passion and a social life. Top it off with having some fun with family and loved ones. That list is challenging enough. So be a topnotch, quality wheelbarrow that takes a task or a challenge, bring it to the end, walk back relaxed and start the next. There is nothing easier than to Disney the sh*t out of this one by simply shouting: "let it go". Be a normal human being, there are very few of those around, if you ask me.

3rd principle is, once you have found time.... give it away! As was said to our dear friend Indiana: "chose wisely". You might want to consider to whom and when, off course. But giving away time, without expecting nothing more than to lose time, is the most rewarding thing you will ever do. We hardly ever really give people our time and if we do, we have a preset number of minutes. Most of those we actually waste by checking mails, messages and other numbing stuff whilst we are "giving our time to others" anyway. So be different and do it! Give your time when you chose to, but if you do, give it away as if there is no tomorrow. You will find this the most invigorating, relaxing and educational moments of your life and by the time you are 8 decades old, these moments will be amongst the few things you still remember, I am sure.

So, in the end. Albert was right, I sadly must admit. Time is very relative indeed. Behind us it seems seconds, in front of us it seems ages. It is as hard to grasp and control as much as understanding why a newborn thinks 03.45AM equals "morning". What Albert however did not speak about is the fact that time is far from relative when it comes to it's value to people. Bitcoin's, gold, oil or diamonds all become invaluable when you have no more time. So chose to collect time. Collect it by planning like an obsessive compulsive that makes clear choices about when to care and when not to give a f*ck. And do all that with the sole purpose to give it all away.