Why can’t there be more time? There is so much I want to do but never enough time to do it.

Here is my agenda for today: Finishing this little blog and cup of coffee, mow the grass, clean the upstairs bathroom and go to my daughter’s 4 hour double-header softball game. By that time the day will pretty much be shot. Oh, and I’ll still have to make sure the family and animals are fed and try to squeeze in an hour of gym time as I’ve been slacking in that department the past few days.

Inevitably though, before I know it, the day will be done and another work week will be upon me. What I really need is more time.

We all wish we had more time for the typical things we need to do like cleaning the house, mowing the lawn or spending some (or more) time at the gym. But what about all those other things we could accomplish if we only had thirty hours in a day instead of twenty-four?

Maybe you might have a notion of going back to school and learning a new skill, writing your own Great American novel or even volunteering some of that time to a worthy cause. All noble ideas but time waits for no one.

Sometimes not having enough time can be very frustrating. Take me for instance. Here are a few personal things I’ve been struggling with for years. Things I know I could accomplish if only I had more time:

Playing guitar: I’ve been playing since the age of 15 and still haven’t figured it out the way I want to yet. When you first start learning you are taught all of these scales. Repetitive patterns you play over and over again in different variations. I had no problem with that.

My main problem is trying to break out of these patterns when playing. It frustrates me to no end when I get to a point when performing where it’s time for a solo and all that pops in my head is the pentatonic minor scale. It’s something I just can’t seem to break out of. I suppose some guitar lessons would help me straighten this out once and for all but when am I going to find time for that?

Karate: When I first saw the movie Karate Kid ( I mean the original one from 1984 and not the bogus one with Will Smith’s kid) I wanted to break boards and faces. I could name names of people who I wanted to open a can of whoop ass on. But I’d follow Miyagi’s rule of being for self-defense only (of course)..

Problem is, when a fourteen year old boy has to go to karate lesson every week with little to no progress well that was too much for me. There was no time for that. So, like many other things I regret, I bailed on it. I wanted immediate results. I mean, seriously, what happened to wax-on, wax-off?

Painting: I do still enjoy painting on occasion. I wish there were more hours in the day for me to delve into it like I used to do. Back when I had no responsibilities other than play Dungeons and Dragons and go to school.

This is how interested I was in painting: My parents couldn’t afford to buy a $200 easel for me to paint properly. Fortunately though, we did have one of those adjustable rolling hospital trays lying around. I’d raise the tray to a proper height. Next I’d take an old outside folding picnic chair and angle it in an upside down “V’ configuration on top of the. Finally, I’d lean my canvas on the chair and VOILA…instant ghetto easel.

I have to admit, it surely took some skills to not knock the canvas off but I managed to paint some cool little diddies on it.

I think if Congress ever authorizes more hours in a day (and surely they can since they can do everything else) there will eventually be a real easel sitting in my basement. Bob Ross would be proud.

Writing: I’ve written plenty of songs and stories over the years. But for every one that I’ve written there are at least three that are incomplete.

Maybe someday I’ll get around to breaking out of the guitar rut, learning karate, painting properly and finishing some incomplete writing. I just need time to be on my side.

What are some of the things you’d like to do if you only had more time?