time study

My first semester of college I had to take this one unit class that was every day for the first week of school.  Every freshman had to take it.  It was at 8a.  Good thing is was freshman year, before I learned that 8 am was an insane hour to have a class.
I remember the class vividly.  The prof was a sharply dressed man in his sixties, perfectly manicured grey/silver beard, round spectacles in tortoise shell.  He asked us to do a time study for the week.  We had to use a chart to color in blocks of time for class, work, and any other commitments.  The goal of his lesson was to give us the visual of unused blocks of time.  And his big message, "Those are the times you block out to study, do homework, write papers, research, and any other class load requirements."  Picture him smiling and clapping his hands on each of the above stated words. 
Studiously I put together my chart, turned it in and received it back with an A. 
The only other thing I remember from that class was a girl that shared emphatically that anyone who travels by bus has no excuse to be late just because they take the bus.  I hear her voice clear as a bell, "Get up earlier, don't be lazy!"  Someone in her world clearly needed to be pressing snooze a few less times.  I hope that worked out for her.
Anyway, fifteen years later, I still approach my schedule this way. 
Well, this is a new year.  I have new boss.  I have new personal goals.  I won't jump ship on the schedule altogether, as it does work for me, but I have been intentional this week for some of those blocks of time to allot for less doing and more being.  Time to reflect, time to dream, write, sketch out ideas and outlines. Take in the spaces and people I am around for what they are and who they are. 
Thank you professor guy for this skill of planning.  Grateful to be using it in a new, unexpected and hopefully productive way.

In other news...
I'm over this cough/cold already. 
I am grateful for my newest Nike Training app. 
I am sad about the doctor that was shot at offices affiliated with Hoag today. 
I am thankful for my husband.
I am hopeful about my health priorities; especially having lost 5 pounds this week. w00t!
I am tired of the competition between great tv and great books.
I am a big fan of all that is to come in the next 90 days.
And, I am still certain that I have more to do in the rest of my life than I can comprehend, but I know God's got it.

xo