Time


The most terrifying monsters I’ve ever seen are the time eaters from Legion, a bonkers TV series based on the Marvel comic of the same name. Per a fanpage, “The Time Eaters are demons that exist in the space outside of time. They look for weak points in [the] time stream so they can enter and consume time.”

As if that description isn’t nightmare fuel already, their tick-tocking, visible-invisible, ever-advancing, all-consuming on-screen appearance still haunts me. I just rewatched this clip for the first time since having seen the show, and I had the same visceral response.

No, no, no, no, no.

If only I could see my procrastination the same way.

I waste time on small things. I waste time on selfish things. I waste time thinking about the time I’m wasting. Yet I know that my most valuable commodity is that which I tend to hold so loosely. As if I’m promised tomorrow. As if there will always be enough time.

But the time eaters come for us all.

Before this gets too morbid, here's what I need to preach to myself:

Worry and stress waste time.

True rest doesn't.

Choose people over projects.

Do great work at the pace it needs.

You can't stop time, but you can redeem it.

So get to work. Get to writing. Get to rest. Get to living.

What are you waiting for?

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I've never been consistent with my newsletters, but that will change this year. So, every Tuesday, you'll receive 300 words or fewer about writing, reading, editing, or publishing. Or something inspirational, as I hope today's was.

Always feel free to reply. Ask me a question you'd like to see answered here. Reach out for help with your next nonfiction project. Or just reply to let me know, Yeah, me too.

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BLAKE ATWOOD

I help thought leaders turn their ideas into books that change lives and leave a legacy.

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