Transcript for the Piece Audio version of Carpe Diem Today?

Time. It?s considered by many to be our most precious commodity.

But is 'Time' ever really on our side? Does it work in our favor or do time constraints -- and what I guess I'm really taking about here are the responsibilities that we allow to take our time -- keeping us from achieving our full potential?

One of my favorite sayings, 'Carpe Diem,' or 'Seize the Day' almost calls out for us to toss the watch and take what happens to us into our own hands -- however long that takes.

But how many of us can actually do that? More precisely: How many of us can 'afford' to do that, literally or figuratively?

I have two minutes in which to share some thoughts about this... and in doing so I hope you'll get a sense for what I'm all about.

One thing I spend a lot of time thinking about is 'Employment in the Land of Opportunity.'

There are what I call the "over-employed." Between commutes and long hours, 'Time', it seems, is not on their side. At least not personal time. Not even in terms of time to complete the chores of life, such as grocery shopping, taking care of the dry cleaning or even getting their families together for an evening meal. One could argue that American tradition is being revisited, reworked or otherwise rejected due to a general 'lack of time.'

On the flip side of the coin are the nations? ever-expanding "under-employed," those that can't get enough hours at work to make ends meet or cannot find work at all. To the outside observer, they seem to have all the 'Time' in the world. But many live lives that feel increasingly devoid of meaning, as their daily routines are not rewarded with the almighty dollar. As money dwindles, paying for goods and services becomes less about the 'time' one must spend to pick up the dry cleaning, but the 'cost' to have one's clothes dry cleaned in the first place.

This is Jennifer Neeley.