Bountiful Results

We live in a very high tech world. We have software for everything.  I cannot remember most of the phone numbers that I need because they are electronically stored in a speed dial. When was the last time that you multiplied 2 or 3 digit numbers without a calculator?  Don’t get me wrong, I am a big fan of technology.  I am using it right now.

What technology should not replace is:

• Quality family time
• Decision making
• Face to face communication
• Problem solving

Bountiful results for the family starts with more open communication – face to face.  Our body language is more than 60% of our communication.  The expression on our face, the shifting of the eyes and even the way we have our body positioned says much about the message we are presenting.  I can not see that in an e-mail, a note on the counter or even a phone call.  We need to carve out time away from technology to listen to our significant other’s needs and thoughts.  We need to be face to face with our children and seek to understand what is going on in their life.  Remember,  they will be saying more with their body than their words.  Wikipedia has some great information on Body Language.

It is a great idea to collect information using technology.  There is a lot of software that will organize the data into a nice package or presentation. When it is time to make a decision based on the information, it is best to listen to that inner voice or pay attention to that feeling in your gut.  These are reactions caused by past experiences.  They deserve as much weight in the decision making as the data does.  I personally have gone against the collected data when I made a decision because I wasn’t confident about the accuracy of the data collection.  We need listen to our heart and our mind will follow.

Problem solving has been enhanced by technology, but should never replace the super computer that we all have been blessed with; our brain.  Isn’t it amazing how all of our past experiences are kept for reference?  All it takes is something similar to recall an event from 20 years ago.  Again, collect the information and then run it through your body.  Is your mind recalling any relevant information? How does your gut feel about it?  Is your heart convinced that it is right?

If the power goes out and the cell phone battery dies, you are left with what mankind has used for thousands of years – the bountiful results within yourself.  Make sure that you keep them sharp

The answer is 1,440.

The question should be – How many minutes a day do you spend improving your quality of life?

Today, we live in a time where our day is measured by minutes (1,440), not hours.  It is a slow day if we only have 20 things to do.  If I am not careful, I can get caught up in the quantity of things to do.  It is the quality of what we do that matters.

If I may go back to the farm for a minute, the health of the plant was critical to the amount of vegetables it could produce and the size of the vegetables.   Likewise, my health has to be at the top of the list for those precious minutes that are being fought over.  I would not think of depriving a plant of sunlight and water, yet I have been guilty of depriving myself of exercise and a balanced diet.  Do you see where I am going?

I watched someone demonstrate  the perfect time management example using a glass jar, some rocks, some pebbles and some sand.  He said that the rocks are your quality items, the things that are of great value to you.  The pebbles are the daily tasks and the things that may be required or have been hanging around on your list.  The sand is the unexpected and unforeseen tasks such as phone calls, e-mails, questions or “fires that need to be put out”.  If the sand starts pouring into jar before you can get the rocks and pebbles into place you are done – they will not fit.  Let me see a show of hands.  How many of you are going through this right now?

Schedule the rocks in first- the pebbles and sand will often fit around them.

Here are my big rocks:

• My health
• My family
• Quiet time for planning
• My career

That is it for today, with not a minute to spare.