How I'm Appreciating My 86,400 Seconds

Just because the minutes and hours of the day are finite doesn't mean that time is something we should take for granted. I've recently started keeping track of my choices and actions that add to or subtract from my life—it's a great way to really make conscious decisions about how I want to be using my 86,400 seconds. In The Art of Winging It, Dr. Kaushik Sridhar says: “Every day, 86,400 seconds are deposited into your life account” (p. 115).

People talk a lot about how we should savor every moment of life, but it's so easy to get caught up in the hubbub of the daily grind that we forget to actually do it.

I'm starting a practice where I devote at least a few hours each week to thinking about how I'm feeling, having fun, and appreciating what's around me IN THE MOMENT.

Today, I volunteered with the DC Black MBA Association at Marriott’s Headquarters, where we assembled hundreds of bags of healthy snacks for Martha’s Table to support organizations in the fight against hunger and food insecurity — all in 23 minutes!

I arrived early and stood quietly, taking in Marriott’s gorgeous lobby. I documented the moment by taking this quick video (see Tweet below). It was a wonderful experience in these aesthetically pleasing headquarters, where I was wowed by every square foot of the $600 million space. After volunteering, Marriott staff took us on a two-hour tour of the 21-story, 785,000-square-foot space. In October 2022, Marriott’s headquarters was featured in The Wall Street Journal. You can see a video of the space here.

LaNysha Adams, PhD @edlinguist

Look at this! How great is your geography? #volunteering @Carlettahurt

Taking in the sights and sounds of a busy lobby is not the only way I am appreciating more of the small moments. I am also making playlists of songs that have inspired me throughout my life so far. Putting the two Me Power Playlists together made me think about what I've been through and where I hope to go; it gave me time to really look around and appreciate everything that's happened. It's also an excellent way to remember the people who've helped me along the way, connecting to the “we inside of me,” a core aspect of Me Power.

Me Power Happenings

My favorite part of this conversation was when my son, Davidson, photobombed!

This Saturday, I get a seat at the Traveling Table! Last month I featured the creator of the table and dinner series, Lia James, in The 3-31 (Our) Me Power.

I’ll be in Austin at South by Southwest (SXSW) EDU from March 5th to the 10th.

I’m finalizing logistics for book events on March 14th and March 30th. Stay tuned for the announcements.

Me Power Playlist Volume II is OUT! Check Me Power Playlist Volume I here.

Three ⚡️ in 31 Seconds

⚡️How do you value your gift of 86,400 seconds, dear reader? Not sure about the attribution of the following quote, even though William Shakespeare mistakenly gets the credit for it.

Hours fly,
Flowers die:
New days,
New ways:
Pass by!
Love stays.

Time is
Too Slow for those who Wait,
Too Swift for those who Fear,
Too Long for those who Grieve,
Too Short for those who Rejoice;
But for those who Love,
Time is not.

⚡A good friend sent this photo to me on Monday because someone sent it to her. She saw this and thought of me. I paid it forward, shared it with another friend, who told me she also read it and thought of me. That kind of alignment gives me goosebumps!

⚡️On this date, 2-23-23, there are 25 days left until spring. There are 311 days left in 2023. What will you shift in the time you have left?