My Time by Steve Rizzo

I put a great deal of time and energy into building my career.  There always seems to be something that needs to be done; new projects to be worked on in the way of books, DVD’s, CD’s and customizing programs for clients.  The more engagements I complete, the more in-demand as a speaker I am.  Now don’t misunderstand me.  This is not a complaint.  I really do love and enjoy what I do. I t feels good to provide services that are in need, and I feel that I do them well.  The important thing is what I choose to do when I’m not in front of an audience or working on new programs.  After a lifetime of worry, frustration and disappointment in little shortcomings, I am now beginning to understand how valuable that time in between is. I call it: “MY TIME.”  And with MY TIME, I simply do what makes me happy.  I have found that the amount of time I have for MY TIME isn’t as important as the attention I give it.  In other words, it’s quality time that matters, not quantity.  This time can be a day or a few weeks at home in between bookings, or it can be a simple luxury of staying overnight at a hotel before I give a morning speech.  Whatever the amount of time I have, it’s what I choose to do with MY TIME that brings value to it.  I try to make conscious choices to feed my soul and complement parts of myself that need fostering and make me happy.

For example, whether I’m home or on the road, I always find time to exercise.  It simply makes me feel great; physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually.  Sometimes when I’m away from home, I may choose to go for a walk through a historical neighborhood.  I discovered years ago that walking is a form of meditation that always puts my mind at ease.  Quite often, as I’m walking, solutions to problems hit me with such clarity that I have to laugh.  (You might want to try that the next time you’re all stressed out over a problem at work.)  Perhaps I may choose to stay in my hotel room and take a nap or read a book.  Both are something I have become accustomed to.  Something else I love to do when I’m traveling is to meet with friends for dinner and indulge in great conversation, nonstop laughter and, of course, a great bottle of wine.

These are just some of the things that complete me as a person.  To you, they may seem simple or unproductive, or even boring. But to me, they are essential to my wellbeing.  MY TIME is when I let go of the hectic world and find my balance.  Within this time, I have a profound understanding that I don’t have to push life so much in order to experience it harmoniously, to be guided more by intuition than ambition.  Some of my greatest insights have come to me when I have decided to simply break away and pay attention to who I am.