Written by Each day, I start with grand dreams of what I’d like to accomplish, and each day I’m lucky to get even one thing completed. So, when met with a prompt of “I wish I had…” my mind immediately leapt to “more time.” Thankfully, my little daily sketch and post are one thing that I always manage to make happen. The more I thought about the predicament of not having enough time, the more I realized it was really more a lack of focus. I have trouble staying on any single task for any length of time without bouncing on to something else. Each little project manages to creep forward a bit, but certainly not at the rapid pace that would occur if I just picked one thing and focused on it. When a deadline is involved, that’s certainly helpful, but I’ll still wait until the very last minute to complete things. I’m less like a studious collegiate and more like a little circus monkey who’s just eaten too much cotton candy. But, oddly, I don’t really wish I had more focus because I love the way my mind works as it zooms about coming up with way too many ideas. It’s a crazy and kinetic journey to be sure, but one that I wouldn’t have any other way. I’ve always thought the ability to pause time, like in those science fiction books and movies would be an awesome power to have. But, the only way I currently know how to do it is, as ever, via my little sketchbook.
I chose this particular pocket watch because it’s exactly like the one I had when I was younger. Though mine may still be in a box somewhere in the garage, I’ve not found it yet, so it’s also something I wish I had. I was happy to be able to conjure it back up virtually at least. It’s been so fun to collect memories here of my current life and things I miss from what now feels like a previous life. Part of my bouncing around all of the time means I’ve become one of those jack of all trades and master of none. I’m always so impressed when somebody seems to know exactly what they want to do as they attack it with all of their energy and focus for years and years. They are my heroes and I look up to them now, just as I did as a child. And as I approach 50, I’m still trying to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. Some days, I feel like a bit of failure for not having decided yet, but most days, I’m just excited to find out. I’ve no idea where I’ll be in 5-10 years or even next year. Maybe I’ll manage to publish that next book, or maybe something else will happen instead. The goals I set for myself always begin with “I wish I had…” Whether it’s the ability to sketch and color my own art or the next idea for a work of fiction. Everything I do starts with just a wish, like I’ve suddenly spotted a shooting star.
The things I wish for, however, are never the usual fare that one might choose if they’d just stumbled onto a genie’s lamp. I don’t wish for fame or fortune as those aren’t the most interesting things I can imagine. My mind leaps to other things where something cool gets made that didn’t exist in the moment before that wish was granted. That’s pretty much how I start every day as I race against time. I imagine all of the things I dream I could make happen and then I do what I can to move those dreams forward. The mysterious beauty of life is that it doesn’t last forever. What I do in this moment and all of the moments that I’m gifted is the most important thing of all. And though I do hope I’ll be able to accomplish some of those things from my wild dreams, I’m equally happy in the pursuit of them. Some talk of the legacy they want to leave behind, but I know that everyone leaves a legacy the moment they touch a single person’s heart. For me, I just want to create and make whatever I can during the time I have left on earth. And years from now, hopefully, when I’m at those last moments of my life, just before I take that final breath, I’ll knowingly smile and giggle to myself as I once again think, “I wish I had more time.”
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I suspect if we had more time, we’d just fill it up and wish we had more yet. I love your pocket watch. I’ve always fancied one, but women’s clothes don’t lend themselves to carrying one, so I buy them for my husband instead. One of the things I do when I can’t sleep is think of what I’d wish for if I rescued a genie and got my three wishes. Usually I’m asleep before I can pare the wishes down to three, lol.
Thanks, Sandra! 😃💕Yes, I think in the end there could never be enough time for us. hehe… and lot that your wishes on a genie’s lamp are like counting sheep!
Lovely doodlewash! Pocket watches are so much cooler than wrist watches. I agree with Sandra-I would do the same-wish for more time.
Thanks, Laura! 😃💕 hehe… yeah, pocket watches are the coolest watches ever! And yes, wishing for more time would be my choice as well!
Well said…I thought you were describing me!
Thanks, Pam! 😃💕 I might very well have been! Thrilled you connected with this post!
Wonderful timepiece! What I want to be when I grow up changes on a regular basis…..there are just so many possibilities. Hehehe.
Thanks, Mary! 😃💕 I know, right?? How anyone can determine what they want to be when they grow up is a mystery to be, though I applaud and adore it when they DO!
More time is my wish, too And I also painted a pocket watch! Yours is much better than mine!
Thanks, Cynthia! 😃💕 I’m sure yours was lovely… pocket watches are the coolest things. I often think I was born in the wrong decade. hehe
My grandma had a fancy cased watch like yours that was on a necklace chain with a slide on it that was inlaid with tiny pearls and a little opal. My grandparents were poor, so grandpa used it as a pocket watch when he was working at the ship yard. As the oldest daughter, my mom inherited it from her mom. And I was next in line, so when I got married I wore it as a necklace. Since I have no kids, I sent it to one of my aunts who will pass it to her daughter who has a daughter of her own. Heirlooms do find their way. It has been called a wedding watch, so I hope it sees more weddings.
That’s such a beautiful legacy! 😃💕 I love that story Lisa. I’m sure your treasured heirloom will make for many more lovely weddings in the future!
Charlie says, ” Some talk of the legacy they want to leave behind, but I know that everyone leaves a legacy the moment they touch a single person’s heart.”
What a mighty legacy you have amassed and deservedly so. what you call your ‘little doodlewashes’ along with the stories matched to them, changes people’s lives for the better. I can hear that pocket watch ticking. I can tell it has a strong and mighty main spring that will keep it going for decades. Bravo!
Thanks, Sarah! 😃💕 I’m so thrilled you see the positive intent of this little blog. I can only hope to inspire people to be more of what they are and do more of what they love.
Your pocket watch looks lovely – I especially like the hands’ shadows. At 68, I look at life the same way I do road trips – getting there is ALL the fun. It’s the DOING that makes our lives, not the accomplishments or acquisitions.
Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕And yes to that! And the end of our days, it will only be what we haven’t done left to miss. No single accomplishment could ever match the sheer joy of DOING!
Awesome Charlie!!!!
Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕
This doodlewash of your pocket watch is awesome! One of my faves! Beautifully lovingly done buddy!
Aww thanks, Jodi! 😃💕 Glad you enjoyed this one… I was happy with how it turned out as well. Made me want to dig through those boxes downstairs to see if a pocket watch just might be there!
I like your philosophy Charlie. No there’s never enough time. But it’s fun to fill it with all kinds of different things! (K)
Thanks, Kerfe! 😃💕 So true!! Even though there’s very little time… filling it with fun stuff should always be our priority, right? hehe
Ah. Time. Yes… Charlie that is the one thing I can never seem to grasp. And I try. I really try!😊
Love the watch.
Thanks, Tom! 😃💕 hehe… yeah, I know! Time is very elusive… I think I have far more than I do when I start each day. It’s a bit of disappoint what I didn’t manage to accomplish, but I’ll thrilled to try again the next! 😉
Of my…how did you ever get those numbers so perfectly spaced and drawn? This watch is awesome!!!
Thanks so much, June! 😃💕 So happy you liked this one! I used the grid method to sketch it… this would have made my eyes cross otherwise. It still did, even with a grid, but I liked how it turned out!
What a wonderful, thoughtful post Charlie. I love the words in that final paragraph, describing how we change the world when we touch somebody, maybe not even realising the ripples we create as we go through life. A terrific start to my day reading this 😀
Thanks, Phil! 😃💕So happy you enjoyed this one! I think we create lots of amazing ripples that we never stop to give ourselves credit for doing. Thrilled you enjoyed this!