Having Enough Time

If there were a time bank, would you have a deficit? If there were a time bank would you like to borrow more?

In our culture, time is at a premium. There is never enough of it. Not having enough time stops us from enjoying the present as we worry our way into our future. We worry about not having enough money, paying the mortgage, our children, our children’s future (let alone our own), our health, our careers and our social standing. With all of the worrying going on, it is difficult if not impossible to enjoy the present.

Remember when you were a child? Remember the endless summers? Time seemed to go on forever. We didn’t think about tomorrow or even yesterday. We were focused on the present…looking at cloud patterns, playing catch, hanging out with our friends. We were actually relieved when school began again, because we were so bored.

That all changes as we age. We become aware of more responsibilities. We have lives to take care of, places to go and people to see. How much of this is quality time?

In Europe, there has begun a movement called the “Slow” movement. People are taking the time to stroll rather than run. They are doing gourmet cooking at home, as they take the time to enjoy food rather than do fast foods, they are taking the time to simply sit and relax, take in a sunset, talk to each other and simply be. It is not that there is more time in Europe as much as there is a perceptual shift.

Time has not changed since we were kids. We have changed. Can you imagine on your death bed saying “I should have made more money”? I don’t think so. I can imagine saying “ I should have had more fun” or “ I could have relaxed more and enjoyed life”.

Being in the moment does not mean abdicating your responsibilities. It means letting go of trying to control each moment. It means allowing tomorrow to take care of itself.

We find that hard to do because we feel that if we don’t control what we do in time, then we may lose out, or our kids will lose out. We feel safe if we know that our money is being invested wisely, our children are in a good school and we have our own homes over our head. It is hard to be safe simply in the moment.

It is in the moment though, that there is lots of time. It is in the moment that we can catch our breaths, smell the roses and be ourselves. Imagine having enough time to simply be you. Wouldn’t that be wonderful?