[Show Up To Grow] Day 29: No time to skate!

By Mel Blackwood @troubleon8wheels

I always feel that I am short of time. Rushing from one activity to the next, trying to squeeze in another errand or meeting as I streamline my day and make most efficient use of time. I’ve gotten fairly adept now at picking up some shopping and filling up my car with fuel (if required) on the way home from work. If other things need doing – laundry, clean the house, in fact anything in the house – I’ve found my best use of time is the morning. Quick bit of washing up while I’m waiting for the kettle to boil. When I was teaching, I used to decide what to wear the night before, so it was one less decision to make in the morning!

We now have devices that allow us to be contactable on the go, portable laptops so we can be working from anywhere, at any time and even smart watches. Is time for ourselves no longer sacred?

With our lives as full as they are, its easy to overbook yourself. I found roller skating was such a brilliant activity in the first place as it allowed me to catch up with friends and stay active at the same time. An activity that ticks two boxes? I’m in!

As I have gone through my roller skate journey, I have re-evaluated how I think about my time. My time allows me to fill my energy levels back up, as was demonstrated on Sunday. By the end of Sunday’s classes I was tired, but felt great. Now, when I would like to skate or do something that helps my energy levels, I no longer view it as selfish as I know keeping my energy level high helps others around me. I have more patience, am kinder and I’ve also noticed I’m more creative.

I book fewer things into my diary, so that I can allow for quality over quantity. I prefer a deeper connection with one friend is better than lots of quick chats with people. And voice notes are becoming a thing.

I protect skate time. It's an essential part of my week. Many people don’t understand, that’s okay they don’t have to. Different things help different people. It’s taken me many years to find my ‘thing’ and while I’m open to new experiences, I can’t see myself stopping roller skating any time soon.

I make time for things I want to do.

How do you view your skate time?