Time Warp
How many times have you felt that feeling when you have been immersed in your day and suddenly you realize that hours have gone by and you thought only one had passed? Or the reverse, when you’re certain hours slipped away, only to discover it was much less?
Time is such an interesting thing, isn’t it? And the older we get, the more precious it becomes.
While I believe our energy and spirit continue on after we die, there’s still that human preoccupation with how much time we have left.
How much time before our children grow up and leave the nest?
How much time do we have with a spouse, a family member, or a friend before they’re gone (or before we are)?
How much time before our vibrant health begins to change?
How much time do we have to write the book, paint the painting, perform the play?
These are important questions to ponder. They help us focus on what truly matters. They invite us to look at this one simple day in front of us, these 24 hours, and ask, What will I do with them?
Lately, I’ve been reminding myself that I need to make more time for what’s most important to me, because the truth is, we really have no idea how much time we have.
The longer we’re on this planet, the more people we’ve witnessed leaving it. We just don’t know how long we get to be here.
When I think of all the times in my life I skipped something meaningful because I thought I didn’t have time, I cringe. I’m not beating myself up, but I am realizing more than ever, that time is truly our greatest gift.
How we prioritize our time sends the clearest message to our loved ones, and to ourselves, about what truly matters to us.
Are we making time to pause and really pay attention to one another?
Are we making time for our health and to rest and nurture our spirits??
Are we making time to say what needs to be said, to let people know we love them?
Are we making time to simply be with those we care about?
One of the greatest regrets people express in their final days is wishing they had spent more time with someone they loved or said the words they never quite got around to saying.
This morning my friend Karen and I spoke about time and she shared a different perspective. Her two boys are now in high school. I once tutored them when they were much younger. I commented on how fast time is going! She said many parents wish they could turn back the clock, but not me. I love watching them grow and unfold into new versions of themselves.
I think that learning, growing, and unfolding is happening to all of us, And so today I ask myself what do I want to do and be, with the precious time I have left?”
“Lost time is never found.” – Benjamin Franklin
“The trouble is, you think you have time.”- Buddha
“Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.” – Bill Keane
Love and gratitude,