Time is NOT Running Out, Nor is it Flying Away
A favorite person in my life often says, “Time just flew away,” and I always say back to him, “No it did not. Time does not fly!”
So let me set the record straight – time does not run, fly, jump, sprint, hobble or crawl. Time is something that we made up millenia ago, to keep a record of things, but it is nothing more than that. It is not meant to be our slave driver, nor our task master. Time is not meant to run or control our lives.
So why does it? Time runs our lives because we allow it to have control.
Take my landlord for example (I hope he doesn’t read this blog, or maybe he should). My landlord never has time on his side. Instead, time instead is on his back, his shoulders and on his forehead. His face is set in a constant grimace, like those statues of people who died in the volcanic ash in Pompeii.
Time is not on my landlord’s side because he never stops to consider how he is managing it. Instead it is managing him.
Time is like a horse without reins. It can seem to run out of control but does it really? No, a horse runs out of control when we don’t give it good management or direction. Time needs our clear thinking and our clear intent.
Think about the last time that time ran away with you. Where did it go? Did it get you where you wanted to go? Probably not.
Think about the next time that you’d like to ride with time. Imagine it like riding a great horse. Let it be an enjoyable leisurely ride in the country where you can take in all of the sites and sounds along the way.
Time will slow down when you do, and not a minute before. Here are your three steps to collaborating and dancing elegantly with time.
I like to call it the Tick-Tock Time Three Step:
- Step 1 – stop, slow down and breathe
- Step 2 – think about what you want out of your day, and out of your life, don’t just let it run on auto pilot
- Step 3 – stop saying, “time ran away with me!” It didn’t!!
So if you’re one of those who has been saying that time is running or flying or somersaulting away. Stop, slow down and start to sing, “Tiiiiii…..mmmmeee….is on my side.”
Let your hips sway as you sing, take a deep breathe and relax. Life is better when time is on your side, rather than your back.
I would like to meet your favourite person and thank him for triggering your terrific insight and advice – so timely for most people I know, right now.
So no more runaway horses! I will be taking my own steed firmly in hand, remembering to slow right down, and follow your wisdom every step of the way – one through three. I love it. Thank you for a great article.
Hi Annie,
the time reading this article was time well spent indeed, time to breathe, time to check and see how one’s heart beats one step at a time and last but not least for the time being, it’s time for a cup of tea
The English Sisters
Annie,
Interesting perspective on a phenomenon that’s been around since a bored caveman invented the sun dial.
Not to worry, though. Your landlord won’t read this – he doesn’t have the time (at least in his mind, anyway). Your landlord most likely thinks in terms of months. That is, after all, how the rent is paid. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that. I’m sure he has a monthly mortgage to pay, as well. It’s not a huge stretch, though, to assume that he views the rest of his life through the same lens – years, months, weeks, days, hours, sometimes minutes, then become his master, and this we where we tend to over-subscribe to the concept.
I prefer to think of time as my mistress rather than my master.
Rather than viewing time as a tool, or a framework for managing one’s life, most of us are programmed to think of time in terms of discrete, finite units that exert some kind of supernatural control over us by virtue of their relative scarcity. Somewhere between that perspective and ignoring time completely, lies the perfect balance. I’ve been living without a watch the past few days because I sent out to be repaired. Amazingly enough, my life hasn’t fallen apart yet.
Time is for scheduling meetings, so that everyone shows up at the same….well….time; for attorneys who need it in order to bill their clients; and for landlords, so they know when to call you when your rent is past due.
Cheers,
Jeff
Maybe we have great remembers about being the people in Pompeji. Do you have books or stories about Pompeji?
Maria
Oh, Annie, you’ve really nailed it…and it’s a message I definitely need to hear–and heed! I especially love the audio/kinesthetic component: singing “Tiiiiii…..mmmmeee….is on my side” & doing a little moving along with it. Nice reminder to shift the energy. You rock!
Thank you for the great reminder that I’ve created my own “oppressor” in my imagination — ha! I can fix that by changing my mind