Carl Sandburg, the poet who captured the essence of modern life, wasn’t just talking about money when he spoke of time. He was drawing a powerful parallel between the way we treat our minutes and the way we handle our money. Time, like money, is limited, precious, and in your hands. Every moment is a coin you can spend on what matters most—or squander on what doesn’t.

But here’s the catch: every time you let someone else dictate how you spend your time, you lose control of your life’s currency. How often do you find yourself saying yes to requests out of guilt or obligation, even when it means sacrificing your own goals? How often do you allow others’ needs and schedules to dominate your own? You’re not just wasting time—you’re letting someone else spend it for you.

Sandburg’s message is blunt: Your time is yours to spend, but once it’s gone, it’s gone. Spend it on what you value, on the things and people that enrich your life, not on things that drain your energy or take you off course. Your time is too precious to be given away. Don’t let others treat it like an endless resource—they don’t get to decide how you spend your life. Only you do.

poetry,money,