The Rolling Stones told us, back in the 60s, that time was on our side.
I think a lot about time lately.
When I was a teacher, my life was very time-detailed. I knew the exact date, the exact time, and exact everything related to time because, well, it seemed important that a teacher be that way.
Now, working for myself, I rarely know the exact date. There are some holidays which sneak right by me because, in many ways, I’m clueless about time now that I am in a different situation. On a related note, there are times(events) I’ve completely forgotten though, at the time, they seemed very important. What’s up with that?
I’m as likely to remember the sweet time of my first kiss, decades ago, as I am to remember to make time to take the garbage out to the curb tomorrow.
Time is fleeting, and the older you get it becomes obvious that The Stones were full of baloney, but if it is fleeting, why is it that unpleasant moments seem to drag out forever, as though the hands on the clock are stuck in one position?
And then we have Dr. Seuss’s opinion on time:
“How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?”
More naps these days
Time is running out! Well duh! Time has been running out since the day we were born, and yet most of us act like we have an unlimited supply of it.
Do I have time to write the novels I still want to write? Do I have time to bestow on Bev the love she deserves? Do I have time to become the man I’ve always wanted to be.
No, Mick Jagger, time is definitely not on my side. I’d better get busy while I still have time.
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Aw, know this feeling well and I agree I better get busy myself here! Thanks for the reminder and Happy Tuesday once again, Bill!! 🙂
Busy, busy, busy, Janine, and I’m not a parent of two young girls. 🙂 Thanks my friend.
You are so right! Time is the one commodity that is most precious. We never get any more time. We only have what we’ve been given.
We better make hay then Donna! Thanks so much!
Yea…. Which person wrote that song because I would like to slap him.
What time is it?
Man… I better get to work.
Thanks Bill.
Quit loafing around, Greg!!! You’ve got work to do, buddy! 🙂
Hi Bill – There did always feel like there is plenty of time. Not so much these days. Enjoy the holidays. Hint, hint, Christmas is on its way go shopping for Bev.
Mike, I hate to tell ya, but we don’t do Christmas presents.LOL We gave that up a couple years ago. Now we just do something special for each other…which I guess is a present after all.
I imagine at age 75 ol’ Mick is eating his words. Here is what he looks like now.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3785044/He-hasn-t-resplied-congratulations-Mick-Jagger-concerns-father-73-counts-child-number-eight.html
Lori, Mick has seen better days, for sure. lol
It’s not on my side either!!
You are still lovely, though, Audrey, so there!
Lawd, like I alllways say: Life is like a roll o’ toilet paper. It starts out slowly and gets faster and faster, the closer you get to the end.
True story.
LOL.
Anyways, you’re right: time just goes by and by…I memorized a short Shakespearean dialogue about time:
“Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow,
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out, brief candle!
Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. It is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.”
Not entirely sure why I thought of that just now, other than the seeming contradictions of time creeping by at a petty pace, and yet, life is “an hour upon the stage.”
Boy, is it ever ephemeral.
I’ve been working on a meditation course for my website these last two months. It’s been write, write, write all weekend, go to work for three 10-hour days, and return to the writing. Next comes the recording. It feels like I’ve written five novels in the time I’ve put into this.
Why am I doing it? Because I want to make it my “job” to teach meditation.
But there are moments when I think, “for the past year, I’ve been working and working, with nary a day off..and I have to take care not to burn out. But also to live life – I don’t know when my time’s up.”
Burn out I won’t: I am in love with this work. But I do recognize that I need more balance. Not just this work. But getting out in plein air and going to a matinee. Getting a root beer float every once in a blue moon. I want to volunteer more.
So I figure I’m playing the four burners game. I have the “work” burner on right now. The other three, family, health, and friends are more dimly lit at the moment. Family and health more on “higher” than friends at the moment because of my busy-ness with work.
But I need to turn up the other burners soon. Because life IS short. We won’t be remembered for having the “work” burner on all the time. We need the other ones to be on, too. They can’t all be on at the same temperature all at once. Then we’re not doing any of those things well at all. And when the family burner is on, the other three necessarily have to dim. Same with friends. Same with health.
Ah well…just my musings on a Tuesday night. I could write a post about the limited time we have. Hehe.
I hope you have a wonderful week, Big Bro. Sending hugs!
Lil Sis, look at you! You took this time topic and ran with it….great comment and I’m a bit embarrassed by it. My comments need to be of this standard. Sigh! You just shamed me without trying to do so. 🙂 Thanks so much for always taking the time to leave quality thoughts. Hugs to you from rainy Olympia.
Hehe, sorry Big Bro. This was not my intention. I do love it, however, when I read something and my mind gushes with thoughts that passage provoked. So, kudos to you, for your wonderful thought-provoking post. 🙂
Time indeed flies. So much to do and so little time!!
All we can do is all we can do, Swalia! Thank you!
I think about time a lot – and it’s a recurring theme in a lot of my fiction – how much we have, how much is enough and how we use it. Time is a strange thing, as you’ve illustrated here!
Thank you Andrea! I’m trying real hard not to be obsessed with it.:)
OMG, Bill, I can totally related to that. When I quit my job 5 years ago, the first thing I did, well the second thing I did (I did a happy dance first) was take off my watch. Since I didn’t need to be anywhere anymore, it didn’t if I was late or not. And yes with no way to mark time, events do have a tendency of slipping past me. My family sometimes ask ‘How could you forget (fill in the blank)? To which I respond they should be grateful I remember their birthdays and Christmas.
Your right, though. Time is not on our side. Tomorrow is promised to no one. That’s why I prefer to spend it doing things I enjoy and making good memories. I am most fortunate that my situation allows me that indulgence. From your writings, I think you’re doing the same.
Have a great day, Bill, making great memories.
I am doing the same, Zulma, at least 90% of the time. I’ve still got some fine-tuning to do. But for the most part I’m living a dream world, and loving it. Thanks for sharing…love the happy dance reference. I would have paid money to see that.
Yes Bro.
We need 48 hours a day but even then if the body revolts, what can we do? My empathy.
We just keep on keeping on, Manatita! What else is there to do, my friend?
Bill
Really enjoyed this post, and I think what we do with the time we have is important, why waste it when you can be doing something useful? And if you enjoy it that’s awesome!
Great points, Lawrence. I “wasted” time yesterday resting…not a waste at all.
Now it the time to prepare. It is definitely not on anybody’s side in this life. The longer we procrastinate at something the less time we have to enjoy it! Great article.
True words, Rodric. I like your take on it…the less time we have to enjoy it…great line and perspective.
This moment is all the time I have, because it is given to me. There is truth in this : “Time is on our side”. While using it in my production project, I can not write. Planning and hoping for the future is way ahead of me , and my deeds will fall out of my hand when my “time” ends here.
Interestingly, I do not think for a moment when my “time” turns from here to eternity.
MIchael my friend, it is always good to read your thoughts. Thank you for the insight. Happy Holidays of love to you.
Happy Holidays, Christmas , Tuesday – to you and to your loved and loving ones my friend. Celebrate, enjoy. Whatever come first we have this one choice to be happy and make the best of it. God be with you, and His blessings.