Five Minutes Matters
Earlier today I was listening to a YouTube video of the Minimal Mum in which she spoke about the idea that “5 Minutes Matters”. She was referring the idea to the general content of her channel; minimalism and decluttering. A lot of cleaning and decluttering can be accomplished in five minutes!
However, it reminded me of a moment I had at work recently. I had arranged to meet briefly with a colleague before we both began work for the day. When she arrived I remembered that I needed to urgently send a short email before the work day started. Apologising to my colleague I began to boot up my computer whilst encouraging her to continue the conversation.
Unexpectedly, she started telling me of some difficulties she was having in her life outside of work and I realised that I should instead give her my full attention at that moment. I’m so glad that I did. Those five or ten minutes I think brought her some peace and relief at the start of her day.
I was reminded of my belief that relationship is foundational. My work day was not affected by me “losing” those few minutes. My colleague’s day was, I think, made a little easier by my “giving up” those few minutes. And, dare I say, I was made all the richer for hearing part of her story. We started to build a deeper connection which can surely only enhance our working relationship and positively affect our lives outside of our work.
On that morning, those five minutes mattered.
The Five Minutes Matters idea also reminds me of a beautiful impromptu half hour spent kicking a ball around the back yard with my teenage son, some time ago. Whilst this is not an unusual scene for us, this one particularly comes to mind.I could have chosen to do any number of household chores during that time. My son could have hibernated in his room like he very often does. Instead, we enjoyed being out together in the spring sunshine after being cooped up so much during the winter. We had a laugh at our not so great footy skills and he told me of some things going on at school. We were both blessed by that half hour.
Those five minutes (times six) mattered.
I’ve since been contemplating other areas where the 5 Minutes Matters idea is evidenced:
The changing of hats from worker to parent when we arrive home from the office
The quick tidy before bed that makes waking more peaceful in the morning
The bathroom break as we gather out thoughts before a meeting or exam
The writing of a shopping list before travelling to the supermarket
The conversation with a stranger at a train station
An all important time of prayer
The list is limitless. And when those five minutes are used to enhance our relationships with others our lives are also enriched.
Let’s be on the lookout for such moments and not push them aside. The benefits are priceless. Five minutes truly do matter.
Nikki
