What would you do with an extra 36 hours of free time every week? This is the question posed by my handsome cyber-friend Ed Mills at Evolving Times, inspired by Tim Ferriss' "4 Hour Work Week."
Just considering the question is bound to bring us more free time - since we get what we think about. So I happily accepted Ed's challenge to answer this question. I'd love to hear your responses as well!
If I had an out of the blue extra 36 hours every week, I would get a good girlfriend and hang out with her. I haven't made nearly enough time for strong friendships in my life since my coaching practice was born. Yeah, I would get a girlfriend. A local single girlfriend (since all my good girlfriends keep moving or getting married.)
And maybe she could be self-employed from home, too, and we could bounce ideas off each other in the middle of the work week while we hiked our dogs in beautiful places.
I would also seek out more excellent food. I know I'm missing out on wonderful dishes all over town. Okay, I said food, but I'm really thinking desserts. I welcome new desserts in my life. That would be suhweeeet (hee hee).
And I would linger and lounge and contemplate more. I would examine. And get quiet. And enjoy my ding dongs more slowly. On the back porch instead of the computer.
That's what I would do.
What would YOU do? In fact, I'm officially tagging Zoe to answer this as well, since she's always a joy to read, along with Karen .. wait, Ed already tagged them. (Ed, do you feel like a blog tag hog?)
Maybe I need to expand my circle. Which I know exactly how to do. Did you see Priscilla's list of personal development bloggers?? Holy hannah!! Big kaching! You'll strike gold browsing through THIS list!
Again, I'd love to hear from you readers as to what you would do with 36 extra hours every week! Thanks in advance for sharing your inspiration on what you'd do with your free time. :)
PS - Tanna, you're tagged too.
September 10, 2007
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Jeannette. Are you flirting with me again? ;)
ReplyDeleteIt all sounds good. Hanging out on the porch, taking off in the middle of the day to go play, eating great food. It seems that we sometimes feel we have to come up with BIG things in order to fill that empty space. But often, it is the simple, small things, that, in the end, will fill it up most effectively.
Great post.
And yes, in this case I was a blog tag hog!
The 4-hour week is my specific dream, my conscious, overt, come-and-get-it goal. What would I not do with it?
ReplyDeleteYeah, pretty much always, Ed. lol
ReplyDeleteVERY true in my case that I used to think I had to come up with big things in order to fully enjoy life, but I realized all the best stuff (for me) is pretty small. Scratching Sadie on the head, feeding the birds, toes in the grass.
And John, I love that you're claiming much more than 36 hours for yourself! Can't wait to see it in action!!
I think that was a tag right?
ReplyDeleteThank you for mentioning the personal development list, also thank you for sharing the pray rain journal with Karen who shared it with all of us.
So nice to hear from you, Priscilla! Yes, would especially love to hear your use of 36 extra hours!
ReplyDeleteAnd glad you liked the pray rain journal. That's my favorite!
Pary tell -- what is a pray rain journal?
ReplyDeleteYou'll like this, Paulette. It's where you write a page a day about what you want as if you already have it, in a new journal. By the time you read the end, you'll have it. (Or be so close to it it's as good as done.)
ReplyDeleteThe term pray rain comes from a story Greg Braden told in "Isaiah Effect." Here's what I give to clients on it:
A pray rain journal is kept for the purpose of bringing your dream to reality. Its power is in aligning your vibration with that which you want, and is accomplished by putting pen to paper about your dream as if you were already living it.
It’s named after the story told by author Greg Braden about accompanying a tribal shaman on a rain dance. He expects a big production involving music, ritual, costumes and dance, but instead witnesses something very different.
The shaman walks alone to an area marked with stones and walks around the perimeter for a minute or two with his eyes closed. No sounds, no costumes, no dance. After a short time, the shaman is finished and ready to return home.
Greg is surprised at what he witnessed and says to the shaman “I thought you were going to pray for rain.” The shaman says “not pray FOR rain, but PRAY RAIN.” He explains he “prayed rain” by feeling the rain landing on his skin, feeling it collecting in the dirt beneath his feet, smelling the freshness of it, hearing the raindrops on the foliage, and seeing it fall from the sky. He “prayed rain.”
I would use my 36 extra hours to write fiction, take a sewing class (learn how to make my own clothes), and refinish the furniture in my bedroom! Then, I'd learn how to speak French and Irish.
ReplyDeleteI love reading your blog and your newsletter, Jeannette. You always inspire me.
36 hours? 36 hours???
ReplyDeleteI would sew for myself! I sew lovely things for others, but I get left out! My designs! Yes, make my designs
And I would play harp ALL DAY.
And Dance like I don't know what gravity is!
And visit TREES!
Harp, sewing, fiction, furniture finishing, new languages, dancing and trees?! I'm liking the sounds of that so much I think I might want to turn my 36 hours into 72 .. or more!
ReplyDeleteThanks Terry and Annette for the inspiring share!
And for the kind words, Terry. It's nice to know this is being received as intended by someone.
Namaste.
I wouldn't accept 36 extra hours unless I could negotiate an equal amount of good, focused energy to do stuff with the extra time, as well as needing no extra sleep to support the extra hours.
ReplyDeleteAfter that I'd research where I can live in the world after my Internet businesses fully support me, someplace where I can get the kind of perks and privilege that L.A. blondes with boob jobs get. :)
Some observations, with quotation marks aplenty:
ReplyDelete"Pray rain" may be my new favorite phrase.
"Dance like I don't know what gravity is" almost brings me to tears.
Using the words "perks" and "boob jobs" in the same sentence is just begging for trouble...
Hmmm...If I had a thirty-six hour gift every week, I would sit on my deck every morning, sipping my coffee, and watching the leaves rustling in the trees that surround my yard. I would start [and finish!] all those odd-ball projects that I never quite have enough time for, but would bring me happiness to accomplish. I would read novels. I would create a fabulous chocolate dessert each week. I would sing, smile, create, visit the ocean,dance more, and play in my garden!
ReplyDeleteI dunno know I would accept those 36 hours even if I was messy with them and didn't use them perfectly. In fact I do my best being messy.
ReplyDeleteI once was visiting a 92 year old man and at one point he gazed out at the window and watched the birds on his deck. I would do more of that. Gazing and looking out at what I see. Being with me, no perfect mediations or rules to being with me - just feeling the being and being with her.
I would sew and I would write, write and write. And I would keep upgrading and fine tunning how I want to spend my days. How I chose to feel.
Love Leslie
Glad you enjoyed the "pray rain" story, John. And the other fun phrases too! lol
ReplyDeleteAnd Kathleen, I like the sounds of your extra 36 hours. I could easily step into those shoes. Especially for the rustling leaves, reading and chocolate desserts!
Leslie, how much I would love to see you write right now! I hope you don't really wait for 36 extra hours for that, but if you do - I hope they find you soon. : )
Thanks for the great posts, everyone! It is SUCH a lift to read how each of you would spend your free time! We are SO manifesting this in our lives as we post and read these ideas!
Jeannette,
ReplyDeleteYour list sounds wonderful. I can imagine you and your friend and your dogs hiking up these beautiful mountains, just enjoying!
Have you noticed some of the fall changes? Awesome!
Great thoughts, Enjoy!
Ah yes, Karen, I HAVE noticed the beginning of fall changes! Seems like it got here fast ...
ReplyDeleteIt's my favorite time of year. Can't wait till we're tromping through golden yellow aspen leaves on the trail!
Hi Jeanette and Everyone,
ReplyDeleteWhile you are walking into Fall, I am waking up to Spring! Baby Water Dragons, bamboo shoots, gardenia buds and that oh so frisky feeling every time a hot guy walks past! I love it!
36 more hours for me? I’d fill them with timeless meditations, longer beach walks, sitting still to listen to the water lapping. I’d watch roses bloom. I ‘d feed the Ravens every day...and read more fiction! And, have time to hang out with friends...actually, dinner parties! I love having them...let’s have more of those! Defiantly more sex, more thoughtful food preparation, more long phone conversations and more playing music....I loved Annette’s comment about visiting trees and Terry, I’ll learn French with you! I’ll sit still for as long as my cat is asleep in my lap and I’ll make sand castles with my granddaughter! Oh, lunch at the café with my girlfriends! This is so fun to think about—brilliant Jeanette.
Thank you!
Kim
You get to feed ravens, Kim?? I'm genuinely envious! Wow, what a trip - I don't get to envy very often, but here I am!! ha ha! Kinda fun!
ReplyDelete(Not to mention that you're doing spring love right now!)
And yes - letting the cats sleep in our lap! I would add that brilliant one to my list, too!
All you folks mentioning reading more fiction - what am I missing? I used to love fiction, but haven't felt inspired to pick it up in years. Maybe a good fiction read would come in handy while the cats are sleeping in my lap, though.
Right before I go feed the ravens. (Man, that's cool!!)
Hey J!
ReplyDeleteThanks for tagging me! Yeah, I loved this blogging topic too, and had a go. Here's the link: http://zoerouth.blogspot.com/2007/09/what-would-you-do-with-extra-36-hours.html
Last week I did have a whole bunch of extra time as I went to Dubbo (very small town) with Rob while he was on business. No internet. I rubbed my hands in glee at the thought of all that time to do with as I pleased. I took 6 books with me. I read 5 pages!
I think I got overwhelmed with so many options and possibilities, I basically did very little, except watch a lot of movies and go to the zoo. It just goes to show - without a plan, nothing happens. However, it was all good! I loved my time away!
And that's what it is all about isn't it - feelin' good.
Zoe
P.S. I would sooo be your girlfriend if you lived in Canberra! I'll have to be your cybergirlfriend until I take my next trip overseas. Maybe we'll connect live one day. That would be cool!
Zoe, that is SO funny you said that - because just this morning I was thinking what a great girlfriend you would make if you weren't on the other side of the world. lol
ReplyDeleteNo internet for a whole week ... wow! How funny you only cracked one book! What was it, may I ask?
Without wanting to sound really righteous, if I had an extra 36 hours a week, I would like to give those hours to a voluntary service of some kind. I now make the excuse that I can't do voluntary work because I am so busy. I am sure I could fill another 36 hours with trivial things for myself. So I would immediately take those 36 hours away from myself, in the hope I could give that time to a better cause. Whether it would actually happen if I was given that luxury is another thing!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Vanessa! I didn't realize until reading your post how much I take for granted that my time has a fairly high allowance for volunteering. Your post made me remember the days when I longed to have more time to give animal rescue groups, and how badly I wanted a job that allowed me to be home not just with my animals but animals in need.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for the reminder to be grateful for what is, and not just focused on what I would do with more.