Time flies when you’re having fun – that’s the expression, right? Maybe that’s why the holidays always seem so short, because when you get three weeks it only feels like 3 days. But I think it’s important to use your time wisely. Although, I don’t think I do.
In today’s post – I thought I would discuss the importance of time, which is quite a complex and in depth topic. So we use time in our everyday lives, but depending on which way you look at it…we don’t necessarily “use time”. In a sense, it automatically decreases; because even if we weren’t alive to “use it”, the time would still lessen.
We always say, “Oh you know…I didn’t have enough time to do that” or “I don’t have time” or “If only I had my time, I would have…”. So we never seem to have enough time, yet when we have too much time – what do we do? We waste it.
The real question is why? On school holidays – I usually think I have so much time to bake, read, take photos, paint, go to the movies and go running with friends. We have all these things planned which we never end up doing. Because realistically…I honestly stay home most of the time. I bake almost everyday (obviously), and I work on my blog. Laziness also plays a key factor in time, as well as perception of what’s more useful.
For example, my mum might think blogging is a waste of time, but to me – there’s nothing else I’d rather doing and it’s definitely worth the time. On the flip side, my mum thinks I should be doing chores instead – but I’m too lazy to do that. Yes, it is a good use of time since it will benefit my mum, however, I would rather be doing things I enjoy. Then my mum will have to do the chores, and clean the house – so it’s beneficial for everyone. Although, she would rather be doing something else with her time.
So is time valuable? Yes of course it is, even more valuable than money at times. It comes in the form of seconds, minutes, days, weeks, months, years etc. But to me, the most valuable unit of time…is a lifetime.
I think it’s okay to waste days, or months, or even years of time; as long as you don’t get too complacent. But wasting an entire lifetime is not okay. You know how I said time automatically decreases? We can never actually blame time when we don’t have enough, because it’s doing what it’s meant to be doing. But we can never blame ourselves, because what if we didn’t have enough time. Confusing, I know. So it’s inevitable that we will: 1) waste time at some point in our life, and 2) have moments when we don’t have enough time.
I’ve discussed wasting time and not having enough time, but I haven’t talked about making the most out of time you have. Because, that’s simple. You need to be ALIVE. Which means doing everything you need to do in order to live the best possible life. And when you’re on your last days – you should be free of regret. This is where time is valuable – since it’s up to you to use it wisely. Like I said, you don’t want to waste a lifetime.
Alan Watts once said – “In order to live fully, you must live fully now”. Basically, time GIVES YOU the chance to live. It lets you have so many years or months or seconds to live. The hardest part is that you never know how long you’re going to get. The easiest solution to this…is to ‘live fully now” (like Alan Watts said) because YOLO. You only live once, and sorry I just had to use it. This does not mean you have to make stupid decisions. So, to me personally, it means – if you only get once chance to live then you better to it right. This entails – chasing my dreams, fulfilling my purpose, discovering myself, being the best version of myself and simply being ALIVE.
I just combined a lifestyle post with a recipe post so I’m very sorry. I might talk about the importance time in a lifestyle post…if I have the time that is. To sum up, the main message is – don’t waste a lifetime; so you must live now and in the moment since time is valuable.
Now onto this blueberry cake and I’ll be very quick. It’s super easy, quick and absolutely divine. If you need a cake for a bake sale, a family dinner or just to eat for afternoon tea – then this cake is the one. It’s literally perfection. It’s everything a cake should be. Moist. Light. Fluffy. Fresh. Beautiful. Not too sweet. Refreshing and full of flavour. Please make this cake – it is definitely worth the time!
Blueberry Cake
Makes approximately 20 – 25 medium square slices of moist vanilla-blueberry cake.
Ingredients
- 125g unsalted butter, soft
- 1 cup white sugar
- 2 whole eggs
- 2 cups plain flour
- 1 tsp bicarbonate soda
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 200ml sour cream
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 250g (1½ punnets) blueberries – or raspberries or, better still, mulberries if you can get them
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
For the icing:
- 3/4 cup icing sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
- About 2 tbsp hot water
Method
- Preheat oven to 175C. Beat the butter and sugar together until creamy and pale. Then slowly whisk in the eggs, one at a time until well incorporated.
- Sift together the flour, bicarb soda and baking powder into a bowl, then fold into the butter mixture, alternating the sour cream and lemon juice until you have a smooth batter.
- Pour into a lined lamington tin (30cm x 21cm) and sprinkle over the blueberries and walnuts. They will sit on top for now but as the cake bakes will sink in.
- Bake for 40-50 minutes, or until golden on top. To check, insert a skewer in the middle; it should come out clean. Cool in tin.
For the icing:
Put icing sugar in a small bowl. Gradually pour in the hot water, mixing with a fork, until you have a thick, smooth pourable consistency. Mix in vanilla if using. Drizzle over cooled cake in tin and allow to set. Cut into slices and serve!
Blueberry Cake recipe adapted from Good Food.