In loving memory of Janet, Dale, and John

I’ve sat on this for longer than I’d like to admit. Perhaps it’s because I care about the ideas I’ll share here deep in my bones. Or maybe it’s because I’ve been too afraid to dive into something so personal, but here we are.

I’m no stranger to sudden death. Three of my grandparents passed away at 62, 66, and 64, respectively. The first two losses were sudden and unexpected, and the third was from a cancer diagnosis (expected yet sudden).

I’ve come to terms with the permanency of these losses forever being a part of my story. But I’ve also committed to honoring their influence on my life and their legacies.

The biggest lesson? Time is finite and fleeting. Tomorrow might not arrive, so we must live accordingly.

For some, that means “living life to the fullest” or “living with no regrets.” That’s part of it, in my mind. But more broadly speaking, it’s about living intentionally. It’s about being deliberate, identifying your values, acting from a value-aligned perspective, and falling asleep at night, knowing that today was purposeful and intentional if tomorrow never comes.

I’m not the only one who feels this way. Jodi Wellman writes about it in her book You Only Die Once: How to Make It to the End with No Regrets*. Katherine Pomfret advocates for alternative entrepreneurialism, a value-based and passion-led approach to earning a living (aka, a more intentional and meaningful work life). Sahil Bloom created these powerful visuals about how we spend our time (and why time is all we have).

I’ve thought long and hard (for years) about a meaningful way to honor my grandparents and the valuable lessons about time that they’ve gifted me.

So, welcome to Time Intentional. A curation of reflections, inspiration, and ideas about defining what it means to live intentionally. What excites me most about this is that “Time Intentional” means something different to everyone. I’ll share what it means to me (here’s how I’m thinking about being intentional this year), but I’m also eager to learn from each of you.

Here, you’ll find:

• Personal reflections on living intentionally

• Prompts to help you uncover what “Time Intentional” looks like in your life

• A glimpse into some of my recent intentional time investments (aka recommendations and such)

• Ideas about time intentionality from all of you!

I owe it to Janet, Dale, and John to remind others that life is short and we only get one precious life. So here’s to you, my beloved angels. I hope Time Intentional makes you proud.

Time Well Spent: Weekly Roundup

1. I recently finished reading The Perfect Home* by Daniel Kenitz, who just so happens to be an Internet friend of mine. It’s the type of book that will have you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Here’s one of my favorite quotes from the book, “But that’s the thing about time. It shifts, melts, changes your perceptions.” (I also can’t believe Daniel mentioned me in the acknowledgments 😭)

2. We’re decluttering and organizing our home, and I reap the benefits of this work every day. The idea is to live with less and reduce constant decision fatigue and clutter. It’s also sparking more consideration of whether a purchase is intentional (and necessary).

3. Like many, for the last few years, I’ve struggled with a lack of blurred lines and transitions, especially between work and home (because I work at home). I’m slowly but surely building these transitions into my day without force, including getting ready for the workday and saving sweatpants for the evening, diving into a hobby or fun activity after the workday ends, and taking actual breaks away from my laptop.

The Takeaways

• How might you support or show up for someone in your circle this week?

• What spaces in your environment could use your time and attention?

• Where could you use more defined transitions that enable you to be more present and intentional with your time?

I’m Alyssa Towns, and this is Time Intentional, a newsletter exploring what it means to spend our limited (and precious) time intentionally. Only you can decide how to spend your time in a way that feels intentional!

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In addition to writing Time Intentional, I’m a freelance writer and content creator who enjoys partnering with brands to build better workplaces (because we spend a lot of time at work!). Learn more on my website!

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