Minutes and hours are not something you can save for later. Time is like hundred dollar bills that will burst into flames if you don't spend them immediately. Your time can be used to invest in enriching experiences, but that time itself cannot be invested in such a way that it can be used when it's more convenient.
Valuable Time
At some time in our life most of us have probably been told that we were wasting valuable time. When we were young there was so much time on our hands that it scarcely seemed valuable. Then later as hair turns to silver the hours turn to gold. The time we have is limited--a non-renewable resource.
If we could put minutes and hours into an account to be withdrawn for later use, undoubtedly we would all do that. Sometimes the time we have in the present might seem better served to use tomorrow or on some future day. But we're out of luck in regard to that. If you're not feeling up to par, if you're not quite ready for your performance in the present, or if you're just not in the right frame of mind to do what you need to do now, then that's too bad. There are no do-overs for today. You might get second chances to do something, but today's time is gone forever once it has passed by.
In our society we might gauge the worth of time by our pay or our accomplishments, but time is far more valuable than any arbitrary measure we can come up with. You can't buy back the time that you've left behind you.
Yet even those idle moments sitting on a park bench in the sun or lying on the couch lost in thought are valuable. How can one compare the worth of such times to times spent accomplishing big things? I don't think we can. Each time is dependent on the other. A seemingly idle moment can be the prelude to the most major achievement in our lives. Or restful minutes of blissful peace can be the remuneration for a job well done.
All time is valuable, but that value cannot truly be measured by us or anyone for that matter. Whether by paycheck or inner peace, the worth of time is relative to how that time has fulfilled us. And even that is something we might not even truly realize.
How do you measure the value of your time? Do you feel that some of your time has been worth more than other times? If given a choice, would you take one hour of amazing experience or an entire day of just being home alone?
'If you're not feeling up to par, if you're not quite ready for your performance in the present, or if you're just not in the right frame of mind to do what you need to do now, then that's too bad. There are no do-overs for today.'
ReplyDeleteI have an event coming up - I was not feeling quite up to it, till I read your post - thank you so much for the timely reminder!!
Nilanjana
Madly-in-Verse
Nilanjana, hope all goes well for you. You can do it I'm sure!
DeleteLee
Lee,
ReplyDeleteI had not thought about how my time fullfills me as valuable until I read your thoughts and this is precisely what I've been experiencing lately. My passions bring me such happiness that that in itself is worth its weight in gold. The past few months I've unlocked my inner joy like I've not had in many years, so I will live in the moment enjoying the gift of the present. Thank you for opening my eyes to a deeper understanding the value of my time. Have a good day and happy a2zing, my friend!
~Curious as a Cathy
Art Sketching Through the Alphabet “V” (Violin & Victorian Women)
Cathy, we so often take our time for granted when each minute is as precious as another--just in different ways. I'm glad you've been achieving such fulfillment in your life. I think this has been apparent in your blog postings.
DeleteLee
This made me a lil alarmed, I think I do waste time a lot ... However, it feels like being wasted if I try to convert it into something else of value and then measure the relative cost. Nevertheless, I do enjoy the time that I don't put into something of higher value. So perhaps it is valuable, but to just me...
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing.
Karnika, it is valuable to you. If you feel like you're wasting time then look for the value that might not be immediately apparent.
DeleteLee
Commitment is often measured by the amount of 'valuable time' spent. Something today's generation has a hard time learning in my opinion. Great post!
ReplyDeleteStephanie Finnell
KatyTrailCreations
Quilts and Quotes theme
@randallbychance on Twitter from
KatyTrailCreationsLetterV
Stephanie, I think you're right about that. Kids today often don't appreciate things like effort combined with time. As my parents used to say to me, "kids today have things too easy", except now it's even more true.
DeleteLee
When I'm enjoying things, valuable indeed, or at least learning something. When sitting bored to death at work, yeah, not so valuable time wise, but keeps me off the street corner, so valuable that way.
ReplyDeletePat, if work keeps you out of trouble then that's definitely worth the time spent. You should be paying for that instead of getting a paycheck:)
DeleteLee
Hi Lee - we need to be able to cope - and some people can do lots of things and keep going, others seem to need time out and to rest up awhile to refresh ready for living our life once again ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeletehttp://positiveletters.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/v-is-for-vaynol-cattle.html
Hilary, I guess a lot of that has to do with upbringing as well as the experience of learning survival tactics. Each of us runs at our own pace and if we feel like we could do more then maybe it's time to push ourselves.
DeleteLee
I just wanna be home alone. I crave it.
ReplyDeleteJoJo, I'm home alone most days and I love it. Although I wouldn't mind going more place like you do on you photo outings.
DeleteLee
Excellent piece of writing, Lee. Brilliant, even! Somebody should make a plaque out of this: "As hair turns to silver the hours turn to gold."
ReplyDeleteTime 'wasted' or 'well spent' is all relative. There's value in everything we do, one way or another. I spend a lot of time home alone (well, not exactly alone, there are usually dogs here, but without other humans), so I'd trade that for an hour of excitement. ☺
Debbie D, I agree that there is value to everything we do, but often we or others don't see it that way. As you say it is all relative.
DeleteOh, and thank you for your encouraging words. What any writer would like to hear.
Lee
The time spent earning a paycheck seems like it was less valuable than the time I spent playing the guitar or being with Mary. I wish I had spent less time working.
ReplyDeleteI'd probably opt for the day at home, myself.
John, working is one of those conundrums of life. You've get your paycheck making money for someone else. Yet when you work for yourself you bear the weight of the losses and sometimes work for nothing (money-wise).
DeleteLee
Good things to think about, Lee. Some view sitting alone with a book wasting time while I consider it valuable relax and recharge time. One hour of an amazing experience is nice but I am more of an at home all day person. I would not want to give either up though.
ReplyDeleteI think time spent helping others is valuable to them, so in turn it becomes more valuable to me.
Emily | My Life In Ecuador | Vegetable Ivory - Tagua
Emily, helping others is an investment in my view of things. But so is reading.
DeleteLee
Debs, it is perspective and we do need to be honest. We all need some down time in order to relax, but sometimes we try so hard to fill up our time that we lose the value of relaxation.
ReplyDeleteLee
While I read your post, I kept hearing my father's voice, "Times a wastin'!" and "Hurry up, we're burning daylight!" He wasn't an ogre by any stretch of the imagination, but raised on a farm and then later a carpenter, he worked outside. Daylight was valuable time to him.
ReplyDeleteTrudy @ Reel Focus
Food in Film: Vegetables
Trudy, I think that was a common attitude in past generations. I seem to remember some of my friends in Tennessee saying that back years ago.
DeleteLee
I'm kinda of obsessing these days about my two grandkids who are graduating from high school next month (one of whom is leaving a week later for Marine boot camp). I knew when they were born that the 18 or so years I'd get to spend with them wouldn't be long enough but I still wasn't prepared for how they'd fly by. I want more time with them.
ReplyDeleteLD, I hear you. I've got a number of years before any of my grandchildren reach that age. The time does fly though.
DeleteLee
Time is time and putting a numerical value on it's quality is seemingly impossible. You certainly explored the concept well in this post. Glad I finally got to visit your blog, Arlee. My Virtual Vineyard
ReplyDeleteVal, glad you've visited and do stop in again. And you're right about those unquantifiable measures like quality being impossible to pinpoint in any way. It's all so personal.
DeleteLee
Thought provoking. I loved this line - A seemingly idle moment can be the prelude to the most major achievement in our lives.
ReplyDeleteWorry #Lexicon of Leaving
Kalpaana, thank you. I tweeted the quote from your inspiration.
DeleteLee
I would also say that what one person finds that time as valuable, another may say that time was useless. For me, there are certain times each day that I consider valuable and I think I would take that hour
ReplyDeleteBirgit, so true--we are all different with different perspectives on things.
DeleteLee
Thought provoking post. I love the line "There are no do-overs for today." I have struggled with time being valuable only when I'm productive. I'm learning that time spent cultivating inner peace is valuable too. If the experience was with those I loved I would have a hard time choosing because I would want the memory. I do love a day alone!
ReplyDeleteNancy, good memories are like treasures, but what we do in the present are the potential good memories of tomorrow.
DeleteLee
I struggle with this as a SAHM. "routine" is what you are told. But the days where we fit into "routine" are the days that I lay down fretting over what a waste the day was. I think on my last day, last breath I'll look back on these very days and regret them!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that's all sounding a bit dramatic, but when you are the insomniac and everyone else is asleep; you get some valuable time to over think and build anxiety about anything.