HELLO MI neighbour! What have you done with the hours allotted to you by the creator so far for this week?

Our weekly allotment of time is 168 hours to do whatever pleases us. Have you invested any of it? Or have you spent it all?

Someone said 'time is money' - meaning money and time should be accorded similar treatment or respect. Money is usually invested and or spent. Time, also, should not only be spent, but also invested. There is the argument that if a person spends all that is earned, not investing for the future, he or she could end up a pauper.

If, on the other hand, a reasonable portion of this earning is invested wisely, that person could end up a prince. Stands to reason.

Those who would be successful in this life must be big investors of time. I think it was Minister of Education Ronald Thwaites who, many years ago, had said successful people were not necessarily bright, they invested their time wisely.

As in the sad case of those who invest none of their monetary earnings, those who invest none of their time will regret it as the years roll on. The 'happy guh lucky' who spend their time doing the fun things because they think life is all about fun and entertainment better take heed.

What are some of the ways people spend instead of invest time? When they:

watch television instead of reading a book for a child;

go to the movies instead of entertaining a sick grandmother;

complain and gossip about others instead of guiding them;

procrastinate and make excuses instead of attacking the problem;

go on shopping sprees instead of helping a child with back-to-school;

drive to the corner store instead of walking/exercising.

Why is it that more attention is paid to money management than time management? I surmise that it's because time is far easier to come by than money. We work long hours, under all kinds of circumstances, for money, but under normal circumstances, no one works for time. It is a free gift from the Almighty - to be properly managed. Let's not forget, though, that we give account for our allotment of time at the end of time! Not my words.

The aim of today's article is to help us ensure we invest time wisely, so whenever we get to that stage where we have more time than energy, life can still be beautiful. Since we all know one of the best ways to invest time is to participate in the well-being of others, we give great opportunities below to invest.

To help, please call 334-8165, 884-3866, 299-3412 or deposit to acct # 351 044 276 NCB. (Bank routing #: JNCBJMKX) or send donations to Hello Neighbour C/o 53 Half Way Tree Road, Kingston 10; e-mail helloneighbour@yahoo.com.

Thanks for helping:

1. Carol Young, St Andrew, for school shoes and bags.

2. Tamara, St Ann, for offering a sewing machine to a neighbour.

3. Neighbour, for offering textbooks for back-to-school and clothing for church.

4. Mr Gray, St Catherine, for clothing.

5. Shirley, St James, for textbooks.

6. Verna, St Catherine, for offering sizes 10 and 12 khaki, and size-four male shoes for back-to-school.

7. Neighbour, for offering flat-screen computer to student at half price.

Opportunities to help

Neighbour needs small office/warehouse space.

Simone, St Andrew, single mother of boys, ages six and five, needs help with back-to-school.

Marie, St Catherine, single mother, needs help to send girl and boy twins back to school; needs small 12 for them.

Neighbour, single mother needs a two-burner gas stove.

Zelman, St Andrew, is sickly with no one to help her. She is asking for food and an Igloo.

Neighbour, disabled, in need of a serger.

Marie, St Thomas, needs clothing and food for children.

Neighbour, St Catherine, neglected by children's father because she has accepted Christ as Saviour. Needs help with back-to-school for children, ages 11 and eight.

Gloria, St James, widow, needs sewing machine to assist with income.