Efficiency

Recently, I had an experience when I entered a bank to change a bank card. The concept of efficiency is not something that most bureaucracies understand. I thought, however, that simply replacing a piece of plastic with another slice of polymer would be a relatively straightforward matter. This was not to be the case, unfortunately. In these matters, I am always prepared with sundry and important documents that attest to your nationality and legal status, etc. For this particular situation, however, I carry a rare piece of identification that most foreigners in Taiwan do not have.

I am a permanent resident (1) and my identity card does not have an expiry or renewal date. This produced an air of suspicion that slowed the whole process “to a crawl.” My papers were photocopied numerous times and my signature was scrutinized relentlessly. Is it really him? Finally, I was released from the institution’s embrace. As Kafka (2) reminds us, “It is not necessary to accept everything as true, one must only accept it as necessary.” (3)

My affair, I am sure, has been repeated countless times in innumerable situations. This is simply a fact in a modern, administratively-oriented society – get over it, as the pundits say! I am much more concerned with the productivity of the human mind. How do we spend our time and do we utilize our 27,375 days (4) of life efficiently? From my personal observation, no: time is filled with tedium for the vast majority of human beings. Why? Undoubtedly we return to our old bugbear, imagination, or rather lack of it. I, simply put, do not know what to do with my time on this Earth. Let us repeat that phrase. “I” do not know what to do with my time in this unique reality. Herein lies the answer to this dilemma, I believe, and it is focused on the self.

I must believe that I am, firstly, worthy of life and I have a mission to fulfill during my existence. (5) That said, whether I am 16 or 60 years old, I often do not know how to find this, so-called, mission or purpose. It all begins, I believe, with the command of my time. I must learn to manage my time to make it productive and useful. To me, time is a lot like water. Let us assume that it flows endlessly. We can stand by the shore and watch its flow or we can engage with it. We can collect it and use it to clean our body or drink it to refresh us and give us energy. We do, most assuredly, need a container to collect the liquid.

This receptacle is a routine. To access my life assignment, at the very beginning, it is necessary to create a personal schedule. For example, I get up, make my bed, wash, write in my notebook, do my exercises, and, say my prayers every single day. Now, this is just my private regime. You must find your own. The point is that we must gather our time if we want to live that useful and fulfilling life that every thinking being requires. (6) It all begins with self-efficiency and how I manage my time. This is a distinctive and exciting quest, but life requires that its unfolding begins with my efforts. The great leader and polymath, Winston Churchill, (7) leaves us with a thought: Continuous effort — not strength or intelligence — is the key to unlocking our potential.

A closing thought: We are so exposed to an external reality that it is hard to believe that I can control my time and my life. Personal experience, nonetheless, tells me that I can. Though I do believe that we are all unique in this world, we also have a common experience. Quite obviously, some people of lesser intelligence gain more success – your definition – in life than others who are more thoughtful and sensitive. It simply relates to effort.

To sum up: This week we spoke about living an efficient and productive life.

To be noted: From Earl Nightingale (8) — Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.

Just for fun: Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young – Wembley Stadium, London, 1974

For reflection: Does Consciousness Lead to God? | Episode 912 | Closer To Truth

This week, on your energetic walk, please reflect on your own individual level of efficiency.

Every day look for something magical and beautiful.

Don’t be a wage slave – critical thinking is great!

Quote: Success begins with gathering the thoughts that I have sown.

Footnotes:

1) According to NIA (National Immigration Agency) statistics from October 2020, there are 871,006 ARC and 20,408 APRC-holders in Taiwan.

2) LITERATURE: Franz Kafka

3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Trial