How many times do we ask ourselves this question:
Where did the time go?
One of my sons sent me an early morning text a few days ago asking that same question – prompted by the reality that that particular day his oldest child turned 17.
I shared his disbelief.
In our modern world, we have the capability of stopping or slowing down many things.
Just peruse the plethora of articles and advertisements on the internet all directed to counteract deceleration of our aging process – through surgery, supplements, exercise, diet, mental stimulation, meditation, massage, physical therapy, etc.
And in reality, probably a fair number of these products and services do make us healthier and will help prevent some aspects of aging from overtaking our lives.
But in reality, the one thing we can’t slow down is the grains of sand flowing through the hour glass – hurtling us through time into an unknown future.
I’ve been giving this subject a lot of thought in the last few days. Soon my oldest granddaughter will be taking her driving test. Soon she and her first cousin (who is already driving!) will be going off to college – not tomorrow, of course, but not years away.
Soon my husband and I will have no children in their 30’s.
Geez.
So if we can’t stop time, how can we fully utilize the time we have?
I am a planner. At the same time, I like to think I am somewhat in touch with reality – although my kids, I’m sure, would partially disagree with that when I display some emotional craziness.
With this in mind and kinda tongue-in-cheek, I am announcing my intention to live until age 96. I recently determined that reaching that milestone would give me enough time to accomplish all that is on my To-Do list plus fulfill many of my more aspirational desires for things I have yet to even discover I want to accomplish and add to my To Do list.
With this in mind, I also firmly embrace the adage that WE PLAN. GOD LAUGHS.
How do I reconcile these two conflicting states of being?
I do this by simply living in the moment and being very picky – nit-picky really – on how I spend my time and with whom I spend my time.
I’ve always been a maniac when it comes to time management.
Wasting time makes me cry
Waiting in a long line upsets my equilibrium
Putting something in the computer over and over again because I’m not doing it properly makes me crazy
Forgetting how to do something and then having to start from scratch – that drives me bonkers too
The difference is that as I age I realize that the quality of my time is the only thing I can control – at least partially. And so, when I’m detained, I try to have something on hand to help me productively pass the time – I phones are a great resource for this.
Another difference in my outlook is staying healthy is now more about preserving my quality of life and less about my physical appearance.
I’m hoping for 96 years of quality life (the heavens are rumbling with huge gales of laughter right now, which I am ignoring). If I’m destined for less, it’s okay because I’m making the most of each minute that flows through that hourglass.
I hope you are too.
Merry Christmas and Happy Kwanza to my loyal readers who celebrate these holidays.
And for us all, let’s keep those watering cans handy to continue Preserving Our Blooms for as long as we can.
