If my life has taught me anything so far, it’s that time is the most important thing that we have.
That means spending time with the people you care about, spending time to make yourself and other’s lives worth living, to do things that make a positive difference, even if they seem very small. Sometimes it’s the smallest things that make the biggest differences!
That time runs out, could be 70 years from now, or 7 minutes from now.
Fear is an emotion which is designed to help us survive, but it also prevents us from reaching out true potential. Sometimes that fear can hold us back from saying or doing the things that will make the biggest changes in our lives, some of those changes may be some of the best changes ever.
I conquered that fear when I picked up my life and moved it to another country that I’d never been before, didn’t know the language and yet, it was the best decision that I ever made.
I’ve somehow lost touch with that part of me and now I realise in light of recent events, that my time continues to pass with no guarantees that tomorrow will come… and it’s SO easy to lose sight of that fact. It keeps me awake at night, strikes me with grief and fear, of knowing that my life is passing, yet somehow, in some parts of my life, I’m standing still.
It’s in those moments, that I realise I have to do more and keep pushing forwards, yet it’s usually the moments in which I am about to fall to sleep and then wake up the next day, and just repeat the same pattern. Every now and then, I get little boosts of inspiration and remember this fact, but it’s short-lived.. as is your window on this planet.
I know that I should be doing things that add more meaning to my life, things that will improve not just my own existence on this awesome planet, but the existence of those who cross paths with me, who are a part of my life both brief and constant.
The point of this post, more than anything, is to help remind me of what is important but this importance is pretty much shared with every single person, and therefore, maybe it can help inspire you too?
Time is speeding up
You remember how, when you were a kid, everything seemed to move by so slowly? That your “childhood” and earliest memories seemed so long ago? Your first fight at school or the first certificate you remember receiving? Those colouring books you horribly destroyed during your youngest years, at a point where you probably have no memory at all?
Those visits to your grandmother as a child as she handed you some chocolates or when you sat down with your grandfather who told stories of his early life, a life so different than your own?
The arguments that you’ve had with your mother, your father or your brother or sister? The times you’ve said horrible things in the heat of the moment, the moment you look back on now and regret?
All of those times that have passed, they’re lodged in our memories forever, yet somehow, we cannot really remember what we did this time last week. Do you know why that is?
Those times had meaning.
That’s the reason. As you were growing up, you were experiencing EVERYTHING for the first time, your child version of you was taking in every sight, sound and smell and committing it to your memory. Your childhood doesn’t last forever, but when you look back, it seemed that you did SO MUCH in those years, but how much have you been doing lately? Can it be compared? Most would say no.
Start adding meaning to your life, start creating memorable experiences, fill your day with rich emotions and break out of that mundane loop of wake up, get dressed, go to work / school and go home. Sure, you meet and speak with people every day, but did you make a difference? Even a small one?
I think I’ll sleep better and have more enriching experiences, if I just make an effort to do something or say something that I would have not done or said yesterday. As long as it adds more meaning and creates a positive difference, it will be a good step in the right direction.
After all, we’re all heading in the same direction anyway, nobody has the ability to go backwards and make changes, they only have the opportunity to improve things going forwards.
Bottom line?
As simple as it sounds, it may be the hardest thing to do. Go out your way to take a chance, work towards the thing that you most want in your life and act as like nothing can stop you.
Think of yourself and the amazing experiences you can have during your life, but also think of the happiness and enrichment that you can bring to others.
Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. – Steve Jobs