gmhTODAY 13 gmhToday March April 2017 | Page 76

the RELATIONSHIP dance WITH VICKI MINERVA Most of Us Work too Hard! S omehow with all the modern conveniences we THINK we have more free time. At least we think we should. Instead, our time is hijacked and our mental time is filled with a lot of things that keep us spinning. We have lost the art and option of “Sabbath.” The internet makes virtually anything available 24/7. I’m not going to lie; I like the convenience of being able to get groceries every day of the week at any time of day. I can do my dishes, cook my food, warm my house and car with less effort than any time in history. I’m grateful for the conveniences these things provide. The downside is that it has led us to a place where we think we should be able to get more things done, in less time. Instead of giving us more time for leisure, we’ve come to expect that more things can, and need, to get done in the time that should have been freed. The truth is, we still have just 24 hours in a day. What’s more, we’ve come to expect that we should always be entertained, never bored, and able to avoid discomfort through distraction. We don’t quiet our minds, really, ever. It’s hard to set boundaries and responsibilities in our busy lives to protect the kind of recreation that “re-creates” and restores us. Our Silicon Valley environment has led to busyness as a desired attribute. It’s become a badge of honor, status, maybe even success. We need to find ways to intentionally draw the line and take care of ourselv