A stitch in time saves nine

29-1-2022
Saturday
11:20pm
#114

A stitch in time saves nine.

This is an idiom which means: If something is done immediately, you will not need to spend much more time and energy on it later.

First of all, let's better understand what this phrase means. According to this proverb, a small saving at the right time brings great benefits in the future. In other words, It is better to do things at the right time to prevent negative consequences, rather than postpone them and then face the consequences of our irresponsibility.

To me, the Proverb means that it is better to repair something properly while it is still in a good condition, rather than wait until it is damaged beyond repair.

For example, if you find a small hole in your umbrella and you patch it up right away, when it rains the umbrella will still keep you dry. But if you do not repair the hole, the same rain will soon cause the whole umbrella to rip open. In this case, spending just a few more minutes patching up the hole would've saved you from buying a new umbrella.

What is the source of this saying?

A stitch in time saves nine is a saying that a lot of us might have heard during our lives. Here is what my dad told me about the unspoken source and purpose of this phrase. It goes thus;

Since ancient times people had to make frequent use of weaving, sewing and other needlework techniques. Then they had to store them properly and make sure that they were not spoiled. In order to preserve the stored goods, it was necessary to keep them in order. Spare parts were put away in order not to disassemble the whole product in case of need.

Though it seems the story behind the proverb was formed but still the main point was gotten from it.

We all want to live lives free from unnecessary worries and problems. Unfortunately, there are many things in life which need to be repaired before they become bigger issues.

A stitch in time saves nine. This is an idiom which means it is better to act early and prevent a problem than to let it escalate.

This proverb is very applicable to the personal and professional lives of many individuals around the world.

It is amazing how this saying can be applied to completely opposite situations, such as those regarding self-care tips for wrinkles or involving great life lessons for our children. Take, for example, making sure that your baby's health is not put at risk because it was not properly taken care of in its first years of life.

Imagine you are in the middle of a cross-country car trip and you are informed that due to bad weather your destination is closed. If you had left a few hours earlier, you'd have been able to arrive at your destination. In other words, you could have saved time and wasted less effort.

The same concept can be applied to our life. If we spend time doing the things that really matter today (the equivalent of arriving to our destination early), we will save a lot of time and effort later on.

The idiom also means that being prepared is important. In traditional cultures, mothers would teach their children how to sew or crochet in order to make clothes while they're growing up. Back then, clothes were made out of fabric, which was not very cheap or easy to get, so having clothes ready to wear was very important.

Closing thought;

If a task can be done earlier, it will never be done later.

It might take less money than you think. If you know what you are doing, it will probably take less time than you think. And if you do it right the first time, it will save you a lot of money in the long run.

At the same time, don´t be afraid to spend some money for something better or faster than you can make yourself. And if a job takes too long, remember that there are 24 hours in a day and most of us waste way too many of them. Now get back to work!

Time and tide waits for no one, If you really want to do something, if you really want to take on a challenge, you should start today. Start right away. Don’t bullshit yourself. There’s no time like the present.

What you can do – Everything!

What you can’t do – Nothing!

Be persistent and consistent

Stay motivated and keep your vision and purpose clear and your goals reasonable.