Hi, Winfried--thank you for your kind response.
Winfried Dressler wrote:
> I don't know whether I should agree. What is the difference of managing my
> time and managing myself? I wasn't asking to manage the time of other
> people (like the teachers you mention) but to manage my own time. Every
> doing is a doing in time and don't I manage my time by managing my doing?
Ouch! My head hurt after following this one! <)>
I see time as occurring independently of myself. It's
external--outside--the small part of my experience that I have some
control over. Time happens. Inexorable. Like the tide, the flow of
rivers, the avalanche that waits to fall, the rain. These phenomenon
occur and are not controllable (though we spend much time and energy
attempting to control some of these--like controlling the flow of
rivers!). What I do with myself during the time I have is a much
different matter.
This may be too discrete of a difference to bother this group with such a
distinction--but the distinction is important to me. It is a mind-set
that people have about controlling external components. So, I believe you
are right to say that you don't see a significant difference between what
we are saying--but I believe the difference I describe is significant.
The net result, for you, may be that you manage yourself within the
context of how you use your time.
For many, though, they will attempt to finagle quality from quantity
within the finite dose of time. I suggest that you already define
yourself by the activities in which you participate. You are a temporal
person. Your activities express your priorities. To "manage time" means
that you will change (qualitatively or quantitatively) the activities in
which you participate, which in turn suggests new priorities. Or,
I ask you, how do you manage the flood? you move footstep by footstep,
juggling yourself precariously as the flow pushes you and your footing
shifts, and the attention you pay to your footing gives way to concern and
fear for the log that shoots just inches from your side and you shift your
balance to the other side just briefly and recover, then plant both feet
for just the briefest time to recover your balance . . . this is river
management in the same sense you speak of time management. You may not
build a bridge, or eddy, or wall or other artificial barrier to trap this
time within. Instead you are in it. We act consciously to avoid drowning
(becoming-being) within the context of time and call it time management.
best regards,
Doc
-- "There are petty-minded people who cannot endure to be reminded of their ignorance because, since they are usually quite blind to all things, quite foolish, and quite ignorant, they never question anything, and are persuaded that they see clearly what in fact they never see at all, save through the darkness of their own dispositions." -Marquise de SabliThresholds--developing critical skills for living organizations Richard C. "Doc" Holloway Olympia, WA Please visit our new website, still at <http://www.thresholds.com/> <mailto:learnshops@thresholds.com>
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