Time Flies

    

Once again I am writing about a topic other than my story.  I promise to continue writing my story soon.

          As the year 2011 ended, some of us exclaimed that it went by too fast.  Even us retirees who supposedly have more time on our hands echoed the same phrase: I can’t believe that the year 2011 is over; it seems like only yesterday we were celebrating its arrival. Could this be because we live hurried lives?  Or could it be that we want to do too much?  Whatever the reason, our lives revolve around the hours, minutes, and seconds of each day.  Maybe that is not such a bad thing so long as we get the most from each day and enjoy our accomplishments.  This is what I have been meditating on these past few days and came to the conclusion that I need to improve my time management.

In my opinion, to become better administrators of our time a first step in the right direction is to think about what we value in life and make sure we allow sufficient time for those activities.  Yes, I know that some of you work long hours every day, and that you are exhausted when you finally get home.  Even so, I still believe we can all find some time to do whatever it is that gives us joy, warmth and a sense of satisfaction.  Most times little things will suffice, like a phone call to someone who is significant in your life, reading a book for enjoyment, baking a cake, taking a walk with a friend, cutting out coupons, or playing with your dog.  Do whatever it is that relaxes you and causes you to feel happy about being alive.

Yesterday I read an article titled Track Your Passion by Martha Beck in the magazine Parade of the Sunday newspapers that discusses the need for passion in our lives. She provides some pointers that also support my idea about time.  One of her recommendations is that we “scan [our] memories for experiences that caused [us] to forget that time was passing” and reconnect with those activities.  Another idea Ms. Beck provides is that we check our weekly activities and cancel “one small cool thing and do something warm instead.”  By making small changes we can make a big difference, we can feel that we are really living. This brings to mind a verse in Ecclesiastes 3:1 that declares:  “There is a time for everything, and everything on earth has its special season.”

I ask again, what do you value in your life and how much time do you dedicate to that which you value?

Following is a poem on this topic of time that I wrote a few years ago.  Today I want to share it with you.  Enjoy.

 Unbridled

Time flies,

a phrase I’m sure we say and often hear,

almost as if by saying it,

we can control its hurried pace &

adjust it to our speed, moods & quirks.

Yet, deep within we know it’s true,

time does not stand still,

time flies...........unbridled,

and with it, we fly too.

We go through countless changes,

establish new patterns &

reinvent old patterns.

It seems we are

always trying to keep up with time,

no matter age or gender.

Time flies,

and with it we continue moving

in our quest to discover, or perhaps

take hold of new beginnings,

put closure on unwanted endings.

Is it possible to find within the strength

to embrace new roles and visions?

Is it possible we can create a renewed self,

one who does not fear time?

         Maybe, just maybe, we could become

ageless & timeless explorers

who continue to dream,

who ignore the should haves and what ifs

that life throws our way.

Remember,

whether we move on or not,

whether we begin anew or not,

whether we do what we value or not,

whether we pursue our dreams or not,

one truth remains certain,

Time flies.........unbridled.