“I have no time” is something I have heard from people from all walks of life and at various life stages. I have always found it mysterious since I have never found lack of time in anything I wanted to do in life.

I have seen students stating they don’t have time to study. I have seen players claiming that they don’t have time to practise and employees claiming they don’t have time to complete their work. Spouses in the family also state they don’t have time to do household chores.

I have been a student, played sports, worked in corporates for almost four decades and happily married for the last 38 years years but never felt that time was ever a constraint for me.

I may or may not have succeeded in all my endeavours as a student, player, employee or a spouse but can never blame time for my failure in anything.

I once asked a colleague as to why he was late for a meeting at my office in Mumbai. He blamed the traffic for the same. I asked him if he would have a missed a flight if he was going on a holiday to Goa. He smiled and said no. So, it our attitude to life and our priorities, which makes all the difference.

As a student if I don’t have time to study or play, it is because I am not planning well and prioritising what is important for me. How can I blame my school or my home for the same. I can neither blame my parents nor my teachers. I need to blame myself only.

If I move to the workplace, I find employees claiming they are under heavy work pressure and do not have time for other things like hobbies or even time to spend with their family. I find this amusing too. Having been through all stages of my work life, I never felt that I did not have time for hobbies or my family. Of course there could be some days when you are tied down but it cannot be an excuse forever.

Life is no different from study, play or work. Many of us think that life is a journey of doing things we may not enjoy all the time. It is not true. It is the way we define what we want in life. It is like if you take the road and drive without any destination in mind, you may reach where you do not want to go. But, if you plan your drive you will go where you desire always.

It is time to challenge ourselves and ask the fundamental question – “What are my priorities in life ?” . How do I want to spend the rest of my life ? I am responsible for my life. The day we realise it, we have crossed the bridge.

We can prioritise both our personal and work related things. Then plan for it and make it happen. We have to be like an Olympian who after winning a gold does not rest but starts preparing for the next Olympics, which is four years away. Let us believe we have all the time in the world to do what we want to do.

Let the new journey of life begin today.

S Ramesh Shankar

12th February 2022