Taking Or Making Time

Are they really the same?

So, Eric and I are down at the beach for the next couple of days and I forgot to bring my laptop. So this is a phone post — please forgive any quirky mistakes.

As the sun returns but the year ends, it’s always an opportunity to think about time and how I spend it.

There are words in our vast lexicon that mean the same thing, even though they sound like they are opposites. Like caregiver and caretaker. In one you are giving care, and in the other you are taking care of. Same thing.

It could also be said for making time and taking time. “I’m taking time for a vacation,” “I’m making time for a vacation.”

Same thing?

I don’t know. “Taking time” sounds inherently wrong, like you’re removing the time from another important task that you were supposed to be doing. Face it – we never say, “I’m taking time to go to work,” it’s always “I’m taking time off.” Like we’re thieves borrowing time from somewhere else where it could prove more useful.

I don’t mean that we consciously think this when we say it. But how much more proactive, more powerful, does it sound when we say, “I’m making time to take care of myself today”?

I try to make time by waking up early. Sometimes, like this morning, I get up, I pray and meditate.

And I don’t have to tell you, I feel better on those days. Like I’m giving myself a big hug.

Our lives are all so busy, we all wear so many hats and we have to change them several times a day, don’t we? Especially at this time of the year.

I almost feel like I’m guilty of hedonism when I tell my husband, “I’m going to take time for a quick bath now.”

But let’s be honest. First of all, I don’t need his permission, and second of all, he doesn’t care! And why do I have to have a “quick bath?” I can take as long a bath as I like!

Instead, I can simply tell myself, “I’m going to make time for a nice, luxurious bath today.” “I’m going to make time to meditate today.” “I’m going to make time to play with my pets.” “I’m going to make time to take a walk in nature.”

And if I really can’t make that time, I can go ahead and take some instead.

I hope you make the time to do something lovely for yourself today.