Image courtesy of https://pixabay.com/
As I watch my granddaughter play, it occurs to me how glorious it is that she has no sense of time. There is nothing in her head that says she has to be anywhere, eat, dress or do anything by a certain time.
I am thinking of this as another holiday weekend has flown by. I look forward to these three-day weekends, sometimes preparing a running list of all I want to do as activities come to mind the week before. Of course, it’s unrealistic, so I inevitably set myself up for failure. No matter what I do, I wonder if I should be spending my time another way.
I can’t seem to make peace with time. Yes, cliches abound. “Life is too short.” “Weekends always go too fast.” For me, it’s an ongoing irritant. When I’m watching a show, I think I should be reading. When I’m reading, I wonder if I should be writing. This morning, while in my virtual classroom for a class I am taking, I thought about how I’ve neglected my blog. Now, as I am writing this post, I know I should be studying. If I’m home for too long, I want to go out. I go out and wish I were home. I feel like I am never where I want to be or should be.
Maybe that is one reason I like having a full-time, standard work-week job. The priorities are quite clear, and if I mess up, someone will surely remind me. But even then, when multiple imperious items on my to-do list creep up to red-alert status, I get that uneasy feeling again that while I am laboring over one project, I should be focused on another. I believe everyone has days like that at work. It’s really when those feelings emerge during my leisure time, that it’s troublesome.
So, there you have it, time. I’m not happy with you, and I can sense you are not happy with me either. Maybe we can transform this enigmatic relationship into one that is healthy, easy and adaptable to change. I want to rediscover the bliss that children have before they learn how to read a clock; when they are still young enough to feel that time never ends. It’s just there to enjoy.
But for now, I’ve run out of time…
I hear you on this one. For example, right now I’m wondering if I should be online or if I should be reading instead, so I can unwind before bed. Or watching one of the many shows I have taped and never can seem to catch up with…
LikeLike
Great post, and so true. Time does feel like it’s at a different speed than I am.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, shows taped, Kindle books in queue, recipes earmarked, stories in my head…if I ever retire, I imagine my days will be filled with catch-up on all these things.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well said, Fransi. Either we’re chasing time, or time is chasing us. We can’t seem to get on a level playing field.
LikeLiked by 1 person
When you don’t have a typical 9-5 time will slip by you. I have learned to section my time off for most task and I always keep a colored coded calendar and checklist that keeps me on task 85% of the time 🙂
LikeLike
Impressive, MSW!
LikeLike
It’s a constant battle and that’s the truth! There are times when life seems like a never-ending spiral of shoulds. I have been trying to really enjoy and appreciate those moments when I can lose track of time, like when I’m in a creative zone or going for a wander through the countryside – the world is always there when I return 😊
LikeLike
Thanks, jml. Yes, the world is always there upon return from my long walks, for better or worse.
LikeLiked by 1 person