The Gift of Time

What is the greatest gift someone could give you?

The greatest gift someone could give is time—time to nurture creativity, time with loved ones, time to connect with nature, and even time to embrace boredom, where the seeds of creativity take root.

Embarking on the adventure of running a bustling cafe six days a week while juggling the responsibilities of parenthood and the endeavor of setting up an off-grid bus on our farm has left me feeling burnt out with no free time. Yet, amidst the craziness, I’ve come to realize the value of carving out moments for what truly matters.

As I navigate the demands of the cafe and family life, I’ve taken inspiration from Tim Ferriss, who famously advocates for a four-hour workweek. While achieving such a minimal workweek might be ambitious, even ridiculous, I’ve set my sights on a more realistic goal: a significant reduction in cafe hours to reclaim precious time for myself and my passions.

Establishing efficient systems and processes within our cafe is the key to unlocking this gift of time. By streamlining operations, delegating responsibilities, and fostering a culture of productivity, I believe it’s possible to strike a balance that allows me to pursue my creative endeavors and spend quality time with my family.

The dream is not merely about working less but about working smarter. As we gain a deeper understanding of our cafe business and implement strategies to increase efficiency, my hope is to gradually transition towards a schedule that aligns more with my vision. The journey may not be easy, but the rewards are immeasurable.

This gift of time is not just for myself; it’s for the pages waiting for my creative illustrations, the unwritten stories waiting to become children’s books, and, most importantly, for the moments that I can share with my family on our farm. I think we need to redefine success not solely by the hours we spend working but by the richness of the moments we create when we gift ourselves the luxury of time.