I'm working on margins.

I come to this challenge from time to time and I find it to be a balancing act between making them too wide and too narrow.

If they are so wide that you could drive a truck through them, there is the danger of wasting time between events and responsibilities. That is, unless you carry around a sack of contingency tasks.

Even if you do, you have to take a moment to decide which one fits best with the geography and time allotted – as well as the time of day.

If they are too narrow, you may find that there is not enough time for the most important tasks you'd like to "fit in."

Either way, you have to use your head and that can be painful.

A more important lesson to learn is that no matter how detailed and well considered our plans, there are people and circumstances beyond our control that can alter our plans. If we become to rigid about them, we will crack.

The mighty redwoods are tall, strong, and deeply rooted … but they are also quite flexible.

Maybe I will use a margin to go stare at one and get back with you.