Boy George Was Right

I’m of the opinion that the key to fulfillment ultimately comes back to time, our only resource, and how we choose to spend it.

Consider:  What other resource do any of us really have?  You perhaps have a house and a retirement account, and those things are important –  important things that, if you have them, you traded your time and energy to earn.   Maybe you have a fantastic passport full of stamps to all of the places you’ve ever wanted to visit?  Again, traded for Time spent earning, planning, purchasing tickets and experiencing the trips.  A boat, a beautiful car?  Traded for money earned with your … time.

Perhaps your thinking about Love – fortunate people have people in their lives that love them.  Children, lovers, husbands, wives, friends –  As the famous Boy once said – “time makes lovers feel like they’ve got somethin’ real … but you and me, we know they’ve got nothin’ but time …”

Which is really where I am going with this:  With our time we chase, do, worry, argue, and accomplish many things.  Does it seem indulgent to ask if we stop often enough during our crazy-busy days to take stock of whether what we are doing with our time is fulfilling and brings us happiness?  Are we too busy doing what we think we “have” to do to stop and consider happiness, and fulfillment?  Can we do both at the same time?  Or is what we “need” to do ultimately the things that bring us happiness and fulfillment?

I am not sure happiness equals fulfillment., exactly, but they seem complimentary.   Dictionary.reference.com defines happiness this way:  noun. 1. the quality or state of being happy. 2. good fortune; pleasure; contentment; joy.  Fulfillment is a little more achievement oriented: 1. to bring into actuality; effect: fulfilled their promises. 2. To carry out (an order, for example).  3. To measure up; satisfy.  4. To bring to an end; complete.

Either way, we’ve only got one resource to spend in exchange for either or both of them – precious time.