Can we do it all? All the things we want to do? All the things we want to try?

No. Obviously.

There’s not enough time in the day.

But…

We can do more than we settle for.

This December has not been productive for me.

I’ve been slacking off with my blog posting.

I’ve got books from the library that I haven’t opened.

I’ve got a stalled writing project. Again.

Why?

I have more time this month than last month.

In November, I was learning my lines for The Game’s Afoot.

I was learning my music for Vocal Point Choir.

My “free” time was filled with stuff.

And I was posting more consistently.

I was more productive when I was busier.

It doesn’t make sense.

Or does it?

When I’m busy, I often make time to do the other things I want.

I less likely to “waste” time.

Maybe that’s the thing?

When I have lots of time, I’m more likely to waste it.

I read an interview of Dexter Holland a couple of months ago.

And it’s been percolating in my mind ever since.

He’s the front man for a band called The Offspring. He writes most of their songs. He does triathlons. He’s a licensed pilot. And he has a PHD in molecular biology.

If there was a poster child for someone doing it all, he’d be a good candidate.

But he doesn’t consider himself to be exceptional.

He just acts on some of the ideas he has.

And he commits some time to delving into them.

We all get ideas for things to do.

Most of us let those passing thoughts keep passing.

We use “yeah, but…” thinking to dismiss an idea without ever giving it some space to breath and grow.

But what if gave some of those ideas more attention?

We can’t do it all. But most of us can do a lot more than we do.