Posts tagged Duration

I have always been fascinated by this cosmic currency we call time.? Referencing this curious temporal economy, we talk about spending time, saving time, managing time, wasting time, killing time, and even looking forward to expending some future time (which we may or may not even have).?

Time is defined?by Webster’s Dictionary as, “A continuous measurable?quantity?in which events occur in apparently irreversible order.”? This definition captures the notion of?continuity and duration, which we typically measure in intervals such as minutes, days and years.? Time is something we have – in that it is something we are given.? But we never know how much has been allotted to us, or to put it another way, we don’t actually know with any certainty exactly how much we have left.

The truth is we can’t really budget it.? We can decide how to allocate?our time in any given day, or week, but since we don’t know how much we have to spend long term, the duration of our participation in this continuous flow remains a mystery. To me, this makes our choices and decisions about how we live even more compelling.? The Psalmist says, “Teach us to number our days, so that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”? How we spend our time and number our days is very important.

I am repeatedly amazed at how some people spend their cosmic currency.? The Dali Lama says to live our lives in such a way that when we are old, we will have no regrets.? That is a noble aspiration.?

Sadly, I have met so many people who are squandering their time being fearful, complaining about their situation, or wallowing in regret.? The past is history and we can do nothing about it – other than to learn from it.? It can inhibit us or inform?us.? Mark Twain said, “We spend half our lives worrying about things that never come to pass.”? Can you imagine throwing away fully half of your life’s savings on something absolutely useless, and potentially detrimental, to you?

We went out to eat last night at our neighborhood diner, the East Mountain Grill.? They have a new menu and some new art on the walls.? Happily, our old favorites are still available, and there are some additional choices.? It is a homey place, and more customers than not are wearing blue jeans and cowboy boots.

Two paintings caught my attention.? They were both 30″x 30″ acrylic on wood.? The rustic feel was attractive, but it was what was printed on each that really spoke to me.? The wisdom on each piece made what would otherwise have been an attractive painting very meaningful.? The one by our booth said, “It’ll cost nothing to dream & everything not to.”? I was so impressed with the wisdom of the sentiment that even the dangling preposition didn’t bother me.? The one on the wall behind where I was sitting says, “We tend to seek happiness, when happiness is actually a choice.”

If you are not happy with your life, then it’s time to start dreaming and planning and taking action.? After all, life is a gift (that’s why it’s called the present).? Understanding yourself, candidly assessing your present situation, knowing what you want, and formulating a plan for how to get there requires specialized knowledge.??

You have the power to tap into this knowledge.? I believe each one of us has not only the freedom and ability, but also the obligation to continually enhance our lives. Growth is in our nature.? Options abound, help is readily available, opportunities are abundant, and there’s no time to waste.? If you are unhappy, it’s time to take responsibility, take heart and then take action.?