Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

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September 22, 2006

Life, Weekends, Memories — Finding Time for the Time of Your Life

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 8:26 am

I've been thinking . . .
One Friday ritual that happens in offices is that people ask What are you doing this weekend? I’ve never been good at small talk in general, but I had to study to answer that question.

I kept a list of responses that sounded somewhat normal.

“I’m going for quiet and relaxation.”

“I think a good book is in order.”

“I have an appointment with my pillow.”

“I’m just so happy to be having a weekend.”

You might note that all of my answers basically say the same thing that my friend, KB, once said, “Liz doesn’t do weekends.”

I used to say, “Hey, I made my quota of decisions at the office. The last thing I want to do is come home to make more of them — decide what to do, where to go, what to eat, where to eat it, when to go there, what to wear.”

So instead I’d stay home and let life happen.

Sometimes life happens in ways worth remembering. Most often it doesn’t. Time just passes.

That’s what I’ve been thinking about lately. I don’t make plans — too many options. I can talk myself out of almost anything.

“Do something.”

“Do what?”

“I don’t know. What do you want to do?”

“How about this. Too crowded.”

“This? Too expensive.”

“This? Too far. . . . too early . . . too late . . . too extravagant . . . too boring . . . too edgy . . . too too.”

I think I should stay home.

I care more about who I do things with than what I do. So when someone suggests anything, I go. Most cool things I’ve done have been because someone invited me.

That sure is a passive way to live life, waiting for it to come to me.

I’m getting back in the driver’s seat. Plans are now part of my personal navigation. I’m finding time for the time of my life.

Life isn’t made of weekends. It’s made of memories.

I’ve decided it’s time to start making some outstanding ones.

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28 Comments to “Life, Weekends, Memories — Finding Time for the Time of Your Life”

  1. September 22nd, 2006 at 9:19 am
    Rick Cockrum said

    Good morning Liz.

    I can’t say that I’ve ever really understood the fixation on weekends. The closest I come is in thinking that since so many people feel out of control of their work life, they celebrate the time they feel in control.

    I always know what I’m doing on the weekend. Friday night comes, and I’m off to the movies until Sunday night.

    A co-worker and her husband have a fun way to make memories. They keep camping gear in their car, so when the weekend rolls around they can drive to a parking lot, spin around, and drive off in whatever direction they end up pointing to see where it will take them.

  2. September 22nd, 2006 at 9:22 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Rick,
    Good morning! I like movies. One thing I like to is see a movie when I’m in another city. That when folks talk about it I remember more than just the movie. That Comment Night when Logan’s Run kept coming up, I kept getting pictures of Hawaii, because that’s where I saw it. :)

  3. September 22nd, 2006 at 9:36 am
    Rick Cockrum said

    That’s one of the things I like about the movies, especially when seen in a theatre. The “suspension of disbelief” that occurs while watching a movie opens you up on other levels. With the critical mind, the ego, shut down, the whole milieu becomes part of the experience, allowing memories to be sharper and more easily recalled when parts are experienced in different circumstances. In that way movies are like music. I think this is part of the reason we have such a love affair with going to the movies.

    Personally, that’s a big reason I like running the theatre. I can see memories being made as I watch people’s reactions during the show, and listen to them as they come in and leave.

  4. September 22nd, 2006 at 9:39 am
    ME Strauss said

    Running a movie theater was on of our favorite games to play when we were kids. It still holds appeal. :)

  5. September 22nd, 2006 at 10:02 am
    ann michael said

    Hi guys!

    I love movies and seeing them in different places. Remember the first Batman movie? I saw it seven times in five different states! I LOVE to go to movies the day they come out too - love the crowd, and the buzz.

    I also don’t understand the big deal about weekends. My whole life has kind of blended together (I did a post about that!) and as a result - weekdays and weekends are pretty much the same. I have fun (and sometimes work) on both!!!

    Happy Friday!!!!

    Just because it’s Friday - not because “the weekend’s coming :-)

    Ann

  6. September 22nd, 2006 at 10:09 am
    Big Roy said

    As usual I probably got something different out of your post.

    People have a tendency to want to please others. Both men and woman are guilty of this. Women feel an obligation to please and nurture their husbands and children. Many times giving things up for them. Men feel they must take care of the family and do whatever it takes to make them happy.

    While I certainly believe in living up to your obligations. I think your first obligation is to yourself. If you don’t make an effort to make yourself happy. If you don’t fulfill your own goals, desires, and dreams. You’ll never be able to make anyone else happy or help them like you want to. Without feeling just a little resentment, even if it’s deep down inside and doesn’t come to the surface for years.

  7. September 22nd, 2006 at 10:40 am
    Big Roy said

    Ann I like the movies too. But I’m not a big go to the movies person. I did see all the Lord of The Rings movies and Star Wars movies only because I think you just had to see them on the big screen. I wish I had seen the last Batman movie on the big screen the DVD was fantastic.

    Now I want to go to the movies, what’s playing?

  8. September 22nd, 2006 at 11:06 am
    Jesse said

    Written like a true introvert. :) You sound like the kind of person who gets worn down from social engagements unless it’s with those that you really want to go do things with.

    I am often the “wait for life to happen” kind of person, but that’s easily enough changed … if you actually need to. There isn’t anything wrong with that unless you are making your life as a victim of nothing good ever happening to you or that you are going to be eternally stuck in a routine/rut/job/life that is unsatisfying, at best, or miserable, at worst. If that is the case, it’s time for the old bootstraps or time to call a trusted friend to confide in help you out of that situation, if only for emotional support.

    Enjoy your weekend!

  9. September 22nd, 2006 at 11:09 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Ann,
    Happy Friday right back at you! Seven times in seven states. WoW that must be some kind of record!

  10. September 22nd, 2006 at 11:10 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Big Roy!
    That’s just it. I’m not about pleasing others. I’m just happy wherever I am if my friends are with me. :)

  11. September 22nd, 2006 at 11:12 am
    ME Strauss said

    Thanks Jesse!
    I do get worn out by people sometimes. I also have a tendency to take the easy way and stay in my cave too long. I need to get out and enjoy people a little more.

    Enjoy your weekend!

  12. September 22nd, 2006 at 11:19 am
    katiebird said

    Good Morning Liz (I think this is the latest I’ve seen you in weeks!),

    I like the idea of life being memories more than weekends. And I’ll add that some of my best memories are of very simple events. But the company was terrific and memorable.

    (I love the discussion and love movies but I’ve got to dash out again. I hope to be around “this weekend”!)

  13. September 22nd, 2006 at 11:30 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Katie,
    Good morning!
    I hope you make some great memories this weekend.

  14. September 22nd, 2006 at 1:16 pm
    Steve Farber said

    This post isn’t just about how we approach weekends; it’s about how we approach life in general.

    A very famous speaker and author once told me that at any given time he has over two hundred goals that he’s working on (I imagine it takes more than a few weekends to get all that stuff done) and, frankly, the very thought of having that many goals made my eyes roll WAY back in my head.

    I’m not much of a planner; I, too, prefer to “let life come to me.” Don’t get me wrong. I know exactly what I want for myself, my family my career. I usually have a pretty clear vision of where I want to go, but I don’t claim to know all the hows whens wheres whats and whos of how it’ll come to pass. And, more often than not, it does.

    If an opportunity presents itself to me, I’ll jump all over it if it seems “right.” The joy for me is in discovering whether or not it was.

  15. September 22nd, 2006 at 1:31 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Ah Steve,
    You caught me! You’re right. It’s not about weekends. It’s about life and knowing what’s important and what fits and what doesn’t fit.

    It’s about remembering that life is made up of moments and memories and people are made of the same thing as stars.

  16. September 22nd, 2006 at 9:01 pm
    Renée said

    Hello Liz,

    My life sucks, as far as social life is concern! I’m not an introvert person by nature but as age catches up, I became more selective with whom I spend my time with. It’s a choice of quality vs quantity, I guess!

    Too much ‘noise’ makes me feel so lost in the crowd. I’m more at ease chatting with a small group of people (usually two). That way I can give my undivided attention to.

    Hope you guys have a wonderful weekend ahead be it alone or with a crowd. Cheers ;-)

  17. September 22nd, 2006 at 9:04 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Renee,
    I’m with you. I’ve always fit better with one or two than with twenty. I never know what to talk about when there are too many people around. Maybe that’s why I hang out in a comment box. :)

  18. September 22nd, 2006 at 9:14 pm
    Renée said

    Liz, you crack me up so bad….

    Maybe that’s why I hang out in a comment box.

  19. September 22nd, 2006 at 9:19 pm
    ME Strauss said

    That’s so cool that I got you to laugh!
    I guess you could say it’s me inside the box. :)

  20. September 24th, 2006 at 9:58 pm
    Timothy Johnson said

    Liz - sometimes we get lucky and our life and our weekend intersect. I’ve had two weekends in a row now that have fed my passions… and hey, next weekend is my birthday… I may be on a roll here. Check out my post from last weekend, though: http://carpefactum.typepad.com/my_weblog/2006/09/family_photos_f.html

    Thanks for the great thoughts.

  21. September 24th, 2006 at 10:02 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Timothy,
    Sounds like your life is on a roll! Congratulations! That seems a great way to work up to your next birthday. Now you’re ready to do it right. :)

  22. September 24th, 2006 at 11:43 pm
    Alvin said

    I love that quote of yours, Liz:

    “Life isn’t made of weekends. It’s made of memories.”

    I guess it isn’t made of weekday nights either :P

  23. September 24th, 2006 at 11:57 pm
    ME Strauss said

    You bet, Alvin. Life is the real things we remember — the moments, the details, the bits of music, the smiles, the way the sky looked. Not a thing about life is boring. :)

  24. September 28th, 2006 at 4:56 am
    Hans said

    I think I’m just not the kind of person who would say this : It’s made of memories.

    Memories ties us back. Bad memories : it’s like a chain someone is attached to that keep him (back) from moving infront. Good memories : I think it’s used for consolation when something is going wrong.

    I think memories are just here to keep us thinking instead of acting and taking life as it comes : now and now itself. Living for now, taking part in what life is going to bring now instead of relying on memories. People form part of life and not memories.

    I think that’s my point of view when talking about this.

  25. September 28th, 2006 at 5:53 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hans,
    I wonder whether that might be a function of where you are in your age.

    But try this on . . . would you rather go on holiday or go have the time of your life — something you’ll remember always it was so remarkable.

    That’s the kind of memory I was thinking of.

  26. September 28th, 2006 at 11:42 am
    Hans said

    I think I’ll choose to have the time of my life. Hey Liz that’s a hard question! But I think you’re right, being young might probably affects those kind of thinking.

  27. September 28th, 2006 at 11:45 am
    ME Strauss said

    To me having the time of my life is making a time I will always remember. :)

  28. October 1st, 2006 at 12:23 am
    Empowering Links: Week of 1st October - Life Coaches said

    [...] And I love this quote from Liz on Life, Weekends, Memories — Finding Time for the Time of Your Life; Life isn’t made of weekends. It’s made of memories. [...]

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