These points hit home a few weeks ago when I made a nursing home visit to Quarry Manor in Charleston. Our dog, Chloe, is in training to be a therapy dog - following in the paw prints of her golden retriever pal, Barney Bradford.

I was dashing into the parking lot to meet my husband, John, and Chloe for the visit. When we got to the second floor to visit with Mary, I was struck by such a contrast. Mary had wheeled herself over to her closet and was just sitting there looking at its contents. I asked whether she needed some help, thinking she wanted to get something out of the closet. "No," she said, "it's just something to do to pass the time."

Whoa - that hit me like a ton of bricks. It just seems unfair that in some decades of our lives we're scurrying around without enough time to get everything done on our to-do lists - and then we can end up with too much time on our hands, looking for ways to get through the day.

Is there a better way to balance this out? We all have the same 24 hours in a day, 60 minutes in an hour, and 60 seconds in a minute. Do we have to wait until life cycles kick in to approach things in a quality manner? And does the world have to slow down for this to happen? Maybe we could look at the metaphysical approach that our lives are not linear - and that time is an illusion. (I'd especially like to employ that one in the mornings when I'm convinced that all clocks speed up.)

My research for this column turned up a lot of information on time management. That's not exactly my focus, though. While it's part of the equation, it's not about the type of scheduling planner we use or how to more efficiently break down tasks into bite-size chunks. It's about taking the time we do have and making it more meaningful. And prioritizing those to-do lists so that we include pieces of the important stuff on a more regular basis.

Since spring is all about the rejuvenation of nature, it's a good time to take stock of the rejuvenation of ourselves. How about a brief internal audit:

Set aside one hour this week to sit down with pen and paper.

Replace these voids with more downtime or home time - working on a project together, establishing a family movie night, playing backyard croquet, walking the dog, creating a special meal, biking a trail together, planting some tomatoes, or going to listen to live music.

Wait - back up. I think that last sentence was written for me, not just by me. I've spent much of my life setting goals and getting into action to accomplish them - sometimes successfully, sometimes not so much. I still set goals. It's just that they build in mechanisms for balance in a way that adds fullness and richness to the moments in my life. At least that's my goal ...

In our digital world, it's hard to resist the urge to multitask. I heard Jay Leno on a segment of "Jaywalking" the other night. He was surveying people about attempted laws to restrict cell phone usage while driving. One young woman voiced her extreme objection by saying, "Geez, there's nothing else to do when you drive."

Even though multitasking is sometimes necessary and may provide temporary relief, it takes its toll in the long run. The person on the other end of the phone line can tell when you're checking e-mail while talking to him or her. An obligatory phone call to a family member or friend that does not come from the heart shows. My friend John calls this "sending your representative."

So, who do you want to show up in your life, yourself or your representative? If you just keep going through the motions, it's likely that your representative is showing up, and that robs you of actually experiencing the interaction or task. Not that every communication or activity is going to be enjoyable. We all have those things we put off because we want to avoid an uncomfortable scenario. Our outlook on a situation can go a long way toward determining our end result, though.

Ponder these thoughts if they strike a chord with you, and let me know how your life lists are coming along.

And now, a few parting words of wisdom:

"There is never enough time - unless you're serving it." - Malcolm Forbes

"There is time for work. And time for love. That leaves no other time." - Coco Chanel

Linda Arnold is a certified wellness instructor and founder and chairwoman of The Arnold Agency, an integrated marketing communications firm in Charleston. Reader comments or questions may be mailed to Linda Arnold, The Arnold Agency, 117 Summers St., Charleston, WV 25301, or e-mail livinglifefu...@arnoldagency.com">livinglifefu...@arnoldagency.com.