Time
“The whole future lies in uncertainty. Live immediately.” ~ Marcus Aurelius
As a hospice nurse I am constantly reminded of the fragility of life. This entire life experience is as beautiful as it is cruel. Life is temporary. It serves us well to be reminded of this. We’re here for a such a short period of time, and then before you know it, it’s over. I cannot tell you how many people I have met on their deathbed who have told me they wish they would have pursued that dream, had that experience, done what they dare and not cared what others thought about them…etc…But time ran out…as it does for everyone.
“The trouble is, you think you have time.” ~ Jack Kornfield
Time is precious and fleeting. The present moment is all you really have. Now is the only time you are guaranteed. It’s not to be taken for granted. It can not be repeated. It cannot be redone. Life is but a series of fleeting moments that dissolve into memories. Time cannot be truly captured. As defeating as this may seem, it’s not. You are alive for but a flicker in the grand scheme of creation. This should inspire you to live boldly.
Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”~ Mary Oliver
Look around you. Really take it in. What a miracle it is to be alive. Who knows why! It’s the greatest mystery of all. You’re born, and you are here, and eventually you die. This is all we know for sure. It’s both wonderful and a tragedy. You’re given an undisclosed amount of time. The entirety of your life span is spent going through phases of development, from infancy to elderly. Growing, peaking, aging, and decaying. It’s a confusing existence. You’re trying to take it all, and manage your time and priorities as best as you can. All the while you know, this entire experience can abruptly end at any time without notice.
“All you have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to you?” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien
On your tombstone your name will be written with the date of your birth next to the date of your death, separated by a dash. The dash is the life you lived, between birth and death, and how you spent your brief time on earth. “So, when your eulogy is being read, with your life’s actions to rehash, would you be proud of the things they say about how you lived your dash?” ~ Linda Ellis.
You can create the life you want. You just need to be intentional. Time is of the essence here. You get to choose how you spend your time. Live on your own terms. Restart and redesign yourself as often as you please. Create a life that makes you come alive. Who do you want to be? What do you want to do? What are you doing everyday to work towards the life you want? Is the way your spend your time reflective of your priorities? Are you living today in a way that you are proud of? These are the questions to answer. The way you spend your time amounts to your life. The clock is ticking and your life is slipping.
“Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.” ~ James Dean
Every decision you make or do not make is either bringing you closer to the life you want to live or further away from where you desire to be. Every action you take or fail to make is either constructive or destructive in your life. Live intentionally. You have 24 finite hours in a day, but infinite choices on how to use them. “Do something today that your future self will thank you for.” ~ Sean Patrick Flanery. Your tomorrow is comprised of the thoughts, efforts, and actions you put into today. The quality of your tomorrows depend on how you spend your time today. You are charting your trajectory this very moment, and every very moment. It would serve you well to consider where you are headed. Be intentional in the direction you are steering yourself, but don’t let restlessness rob you of the wonder of the present. “Real generosity toward the future is giving all to the present.”~ Albert Camus. Bask in the now.
“For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.” ~Ecclesiastes 3:1
Life flies by. Time flies by. I wish I could go back in time, not change a thing, but rather just tell myself to enjoy the ride and not stress so much about the future. I wish I would have been more present to fully appreciate each and every season, instead of scurrying through them. “Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” ~ Dr. Suess. Every season and every phase is precious. The good ones, the bad ones, the hard ones. All of these moments make up our lives. And there’s no rewind. Time just keeps pressing forward relentlessly, and changing everything in it’s wake. The future is always unfolding just ahead and then just as quickly turning into the past.
“Wherever you are, be all there.” ~ Jim Elliot
Look around you. Recognize how precious this time is. Appreciate wherever you are in life right now. It cannot be repeated or re-lived. You only experience this point in time once. Everything will age. Everything will change. Everything will die. Nothing is exempt. Stop and smell the roses. Soak in the now. Bask in this part of the journey. Dissolve in the moment of the beautiful present you are in. You will never be here again. Now is all you have.
“No one is guaranteed tomorrow. We live the day we’re given, enjoy the time we have, and love the people in our life.” ~ Marie Meyer
Leave a Reply