After a long day of work and daily duties… .you get to retire to your bed, lie down, and blissfully drift off into the wonderful world of sleep. Only to be so rudely awoken by the dreaded alarm… and it’s time to start it all over again. But wait… there’s a moment of reprieve… the snooze button! The most glorious 9 minutes on the planet. The rest, comfort, and peace in those 9 minutes may be better than your entire night of sleep. Those nine minutes are joyful as you close your eyes with a gentle smile and relief that’s hard to match.
Time is relative… and 9 minutes can be a long time, a meaningful amount of time, and a useful amount of time. Years ago, I read a study claiming parents only speak to their children on average of 3 minutes per day; taking out all command statements: “Do this”, “Don’t do that”, “Did you…”. Only 3 minutes per day of real conversation with their children. How much time and real conversation do you have with your children? Your partner? Your siblings? Co-workers… etc. that does not involve commands, complaints, or your current life turmoil?
Take the 9 Minute Challenge and give someone the gift of YOU, your time, connection, and conversation. Give them the gift of peace, comfort, and reprieve… as that 9 minute snooze button gives you every morning. Remember, you had a day of work and daily duties… and so did they. Your children have been in school all day being told what to do, coaches screaming, and you judging. Your partner had a day, your parents, etc. too!
Practice spending time without the distraction of the television, phones, and daily chores. Perhaps: walking together, game night, ½ hr family down-time together without any technology, wine and chill time with your partner with no technology… I encourage you to come up with some of your own. Yes… it’s hard and awkward. This world is in no rush to give you more time or money… you will have to make both. YOU will have to MAKE the time to cherish who you say that you love. Those few minutes of care, support, fun, difference, and effort may make the people in your life feel like you feel with your 9-minute snooze! Enjoy your evolution and share your thoughts at www.facebook.com/menevolvingnow/ Happy EVOLVING!!!
written by: Andre Young
