What Is Time? What does Time mean to you? How do you value your Time or that of those around you? How do you measure Time? Are you honoring (using) the time you have to the best of your ability? Questions most of us never ask. Yes, this post will be more philosophical than most, please bear with me. Why? Short answer, because I have been deeply focused on my time and how I want to use it. If you are still with me, then please allow me to spend a little of our time to expanded on this thing I have been dealing with.

For me, time is something I never thought about. For most of my 55 years, I went about my day with little to no regard for how I spent my time. Yes, I understood that time was limited, but I simply believed that tomorrow would deliver a fresh new supply. Time had value, but I did not understand what it meant to be a good steward of my time. It is sad to say, but many of those around me probably feel the same way. There is nothing wrong with that; it simply is what it is.

Recently, a friend and I shared a raw and truly emotional moment together. For me, it felt deep, and I could see and feel the pain and struggle in her words and the way she looked into my eyes as she shared her story with me. My friend, someone I have known for several years, is going through a challenging time in her life. She is in the midst of several medical related matters, each with the potential to take her life, or at the least, make it extremely hard for her to live a happy and self-sufficient lifestyle. This may not be something many of you know or understand, but there comes a moment in our lives when we are forced to realize that the life we live, with the health we enjoy, can be taken away from us in a single breath. Life, health, and happiness are like a house of cards, stacked precariously on top of one another. All it takes is for that single card to get off balance and the house will collapse. My friend is a social services professional, just like me. She understands this. We see it every day in the work we do and the people we serve with all their struggles. Time has taken its’ toll on many of the people we see every day. For my friend, her day is filled with work that she and I both agree is trying and difficult, even to many in our workplace, but worthy of our time because we both want to try to make a positive impact on the people we work with as well as those we serve. Each day is difficult for her and yet she continues to press ahead. She and I are similar in that. Many days I see her appear to struggle to make it through the crisis of the moment only for the next crisis to happen. For the record, people work is challenging work. It feels as if one crisis rolls into the next. it is never ending. But it is in those fleeting moments when you see the lives of those you touch become better that you know deep in your heart you have done wonderful things. We celebrate the great moments when they happen. To be raw and honest though, it is easy to get mired down in the bad moments and sadness of the day. My friend is not a good poker player, her facial expressions and body language often betray her when she is overwhelmed or on the edge of a personal crisis. It is in those moments that I often want to remind her that it is OK to take some time off. Take Time to step away from the work we do. Take Time to take a deep breath and focus on her own needs, But I know that all those things I just mentioned are not what social service professionals are known for. I know that being at work, doing what she loves to do, brings my friend some joy, and most assuredly redirects her mind away from her own struggles. In a sense, being at work is a respite for her. So, I choose to watch but remain silent. Daily, she gives, and I know it is hard. Her time, I am sure she has discovered is quite valuable. I know it and she does too. The fact that she chooses to spend her time with me, doing the things we do to try to make a difference in the lives of others, is not lost on me. I feel honored that she gives me a little of her time each day. With that, I try to honor her time by making the most of it; by celebrating her and the time she gives to me, respecting the fact that she could spend her time a multitude of ways. Respect and admiration go a long way in describing what I feel about her, but more precisely, I feel blessed that we can share this time. After all, time is a finite commodity. It is not replenishable. Once it is gone, it is gone. It is up to us to make the best of it.

So, why am I waxing on and on about time? A question many of you may be asking yourself right now. Truth be known; I remain in the midst of what has been a lengthy and deeply personal existential life cycle. I am sure you already knew that. Or perhaps it is more of a life journey. Either way, it feels as if it has morphed into something that has taken longer than I had hoped to grow through. I am an impatient person. But patience is a trait I am learning. So, I am OK with this thing taking longer than I wish. After all, once I am on the other side, I honestly believe I will be a better person for it. Is that personal and emotional growth? Emotional Intelligence? It is because of my friend and this most recent personal and introspective jaunt that I can now see the value of my time. I have become more adept at processing my own thoughts, feelings, and needs in a way that mean something to me. After all, I do not want to stay mired in the muck and mud of my self-defeating feelings, especially of those surrounding loss. I want to be happy, healthy, and surrounded by things and people that bring me joy and happiness. I also want to bring joy and happiness to others. Is that too much to ask for? I am sure my friend would agree, she does too. We are a lot alike, more so than she or I may truly know.

Today, as I reflect on my friend and her Time as well as my own, I want to offer this quite simple thought to you. If you could choose to spend your time anywhere, with anyone, doing anything you want to do, what might that look like? Is that the life you live at this moment? Is that how you currently spend your time? Is it the life you once had? The way you once spent your time. Might it be the life you dream of? How you want to spend your time in the future. How would you answer those quite simple, yet deeply introspective questions? For me, my own answers are as difficult to discern as the answers you may offer. I think I have come to a deep sense of Peace about how I want to spend the rest of my time. For the record, I hope to have many more decades of time left. Time to learn and share, time to love and be loved, time to contribute back to the community that has been so good to me, and time to try to make this little corner of my world a slightly better place because I was here. Is that asking too much? I hope not.

So, after sharing with you today, I have come to a deep sense of peace about me and my future and how I want to spend my time. I have a plan. I plan to be a better steward of my time. I know life has a way of taking us where we need to be, not necessarily where we want to be, and I am OK with that. At this stage in my life, my wants and needs are quite similar, so either way, I win. I feel enthusiastic and hopeful that I will be a part of wonderful things to come. In time, I hope to share more with you. Stay tuned.

Thank you to everyone that took their day to spend it with me today. I know your time is precious. I hope something I shared with you today will be of use to you in your life. I hope to share with you again soon. Love, Joe from the South.