First, how to make time go more slowly: Wouldn’t we all like time to slow down? (unless we are at the dentist) Sounds impossible, but seems you can, because time is relative. Literally.
It has to do with Einstein’s Theory of Relativity,* and how time is relative to distance and the speed of light and what not. We studied this in school of course, but I never related it to my own little life until I got my hands on this book.
Slipstream Time Hacking — How to Cheat Time, Live More, and Enhance Happiness, by Benjamin Hardy. I imagine he wrote it more for people who want to grow up to be Bill Gates than for people like me who want to grow up to be Duchess of Devonshire, but there are concepts here that will tweak your perspective and spur you on to think about how you are spending time as opposed to how you’d really like to spend time–and how to bridge that gap.
It is above all about defining and living your life as your authentic, essential self. Like all books on achieving goals, self-improvement, etc., this one has some ideas that will speak to you you and some that won’t. But if you get one or two good takeaways, it’s worth it. If you are halfway through a book and find yourself highlighting every other sentence, chances are it is speaking to you, as this book does to me. The occasional grammatical errors drive me to distraction, but I reckon I am a dinosaur in that department. (Though I know I am not the only one.) If nothing else it reminds us that time is our most valuable currency, and how we spend it is how we value our lives.
Details:
*Marilyn Monroe explains the Theory of Relativity to Albert Einstein so much better than I could. See clip on YouTube here, from Nicholas Roeg’s 1985 film Insignificance. It is a classic, and she gets it right.
More on the LL Bean version of the classic Westclox Big Ben clock here.
As you know, FrancesSchultz.com posts are not sponsored.
And now for part 2, how I’ve been spending my time. The short answer is: promoting The Bee Cottage Story, which seems to be working. My funny little book is now in its 6th printing and no one is more surprised than I, except possibly my publishers, bless their hearts. But I only bring it up because, okay I was bragging, but also because I’ve been to some lovely places and met even lovelier people, and I’ve been a-wantin’ to share them with you. Actually, I have done on Instagram, posting almost daily.
Though I have to say I have missed blogging, have missed the writing part, and the YOU part, but the time it takes eludes me now, and Instagram substitutes in the meanwhile. Hope you’ll join me there, and I will get back here when I can. Have a wonderful summer.
Love, Frances
That sounds like a good book, although grammatical errors drive me to distraction as well. So happy Bee Cottage is doing well. It’s a terrific book.
Good morning ! I just read you Bee Cottage book and loved it and your writing! Have you seen the gorgeous “BEE” pin that is at Christies Joan Rivers auction going on now? I think it has your name on it!! Love looking at our Instagram pictures…they are beautiful! Thank you for sharing them. Terri
Thank you so much dear Terri, and gosh, I will have to look at Joan’s pin! Thanks for the tip!!! Warmly, Frances
Love your beautiful Big Ben! I bought an old wind-up Big Ben at a yard sale and thought it would be a great-looking clock for my bedside table. Then I noticed, printed right on the face of the clock, a warning: LOUD ALARM. Turns out they weren’t exaggerating. So now it sits on a shelf, arms raised in the cheerful 10-to-2 position, and I enjoy it in blessed silence.
Oh Eleanor, how funny! Honestly I like it because it is so easy to read – and if I have to set an alarm, I use the “chimes” ringtone on my iPhone – is very gentle 😉 Thank you so much for writing. Warmly, Frances
Lovely post, Frances! I will definitely check this book out, I’m in desperate need of a few extra hours. Daily!!! As for the Bee Cottage Story, I’m very happy the book is doing so well, as it should be since it’s the best design book I’ve read in years…
Well thank you, dear Eva. And while it isn’t a “time-saving” book per se, Marie Kondo’s “Life Saving Magic of Tidying Up” will help you to organize in such a way that everything in your life is more streamlined! Good luck and let us know how it goes, x, Frances