I’ve been enjoying a regrettably rare gift. My schedule over the holidays and first week of January has provided me space in my life. That is to say, my life hasn’t been overly crammed with activity and commitment. I’ve had room lately to think, enjoy, reflect, read, learn and relate not only more but better.

Richard Swenson wrote a book called Margin back in 1992 that affected me powerfully. One of the things that I retained was the importance of margins (or space or time reserves). Unfortunately reality crowded out the principle in the intervening years.

You need space in your life to do more and better the things that count most; the things I’ve mentioned above. That doesn’t eliminate other activities that must be done. In reality, space complements and enhances all those other things.

Conversations that aren’t rushed usually turn out to build better relationships. Reading that is done thoughtfully rather than crammed between appointments produces deeper insights. Reflection that is unhurried naturally trumps three minutes of intense contemplation.

My point isn’t really “got space?” You don’t. Your life, like mine, is inordinately busy. You get space. You make room by prioritizing and eliminating and reducing and rearranging.

Milk will make your bones stronger but space will make your life better.