Forged in Fire

Once a week, I get together via zoom with a couple of my closest friends. 

Each Wednesday Morning at 5:30 am.

Before we begin whatever is on the slate for that given day, we pencil in about an hour of discussion with one another. Right now, we’re piecing through a Men’s Group Discussion Template (you should check it out, I’m loving it!) 

While we do have some form of guidance behind our talks together, it almost always results in some sort of ad-lib banter between the three of us. This, in its entirety, is such a valuable hour within my week. Though minimal, its power stands out without question.

Of the many net positives that are associated with this time together, what presents itself as perhaps the most instrumental, is our ability to bounce ideas, thoughts and perspectives off one another. With each of us wading through the uncharted waters of early parenthood, it has become more apparent that there is power in numbers and in accepting that the more we understand, the more we realize that we don’t understand.

A perfect example came to the surface this week as I was listening to the two of them share their experiences within the past several weeks since the birth of their first children. With my daughter being 18-months old now, I have some lived experience to pull advice and lessons from, but recognize the importance of hearing out their perception(s) of their lives at this moment in time.

One thing was said, without much thought behind the sentiment, by one of my buddies – he said: “I’m starting to realize that time is our most valuable asset.”

I was left speechless. He was right.

In a world full of materialistic possessions and the inherent desire to chase “more” of something, be it money, power, fame or something entirely different, nothing holds more weight than our time.

I suppose that I’d come to grips with this some time ago, but hadn’t yet put it into words. 

Hearing this statement, so quickly in passing, sent my mind into a tizzy. Quickly, I began auditing my daily decisions since the onset of my family, some 18-months ago. How have I been utilizing my time? Being that it (truly) is the most valuable thing that we have, am I distributing it properly?

Furthermore, what does this newfound understanding mean for the trajectory of my life moving forward?

Time with my wife and daughter. Time growing within my faith. Time spent maintaining my physical fitness. Time working toward my career progression. Time optimizing the Forged in Fire platform. Time with close friends. Time tending to my home. Time furthering my personal education. 

All of these things that are deserving of my time – but to what extent? A question that I think we all need to ask ourselves.

In recognizing that time is fleeting, and we only have so much of it, how should we distribute it? 

These are tough thoughts to work through, but ones that I now believe are integral to our fulfillment of what we’ve been placed here to carry out. 

The more we ponder them, the more we can act in accordance to what holds the greatest value in our lives, our time.

Forge on.

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