What Does Time Mean to You?

For me, time is love

“Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.”

– William Shakespeare

If time changes things, why can a day fly by and we wake up tomorrow doing the same things with no meaning and a feeling of being stuck?

We must find a way to use time as a machine rather than as an excuse. How often do we lie to ourselves and others by saying, tomorrow, I’ll – what are your justifications, reasons, defenses, lies, and excuses to put off what you need, want, desire, or dream of doing in a day?

Although time is indeed infinite, our time here is about love and having a healthy love for ourselves and for those around us.

No matter how long we live, it will never seem long enough for ourselves or those in our circle of influence. Time is love, which means we need to live each day to the fullest, but that does not mean packing more foolish things with absolutely no meaning into our days.

We must rise daily, looking ahead to a brighter future, trusting in the timing of everything here on earth. Although we can’t only hope for better, we must take action to make the changes around us. Making changes isn’t easy; is this why we put difficult things off until tomorrow?

Do we burn ourselves out on the easy things and run out of time in the day? We must find ways to fit those things with meaning into our lives, moving that time machine forward in the right direction with our passions and hobbies.

“Yesterday’s the past, tomorrow’s the future, but today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present.”

— Bil Keane

Our time machines

We need to let our talents get behind the controls of our time machine. We need to control it before it controls us.

I’m not saying to micromanage our time like a control freak; I’m saying use our talent to learn and use whatever is necessary to live authentically within while being present at any moment in time.

Your next turn on the time machine might be slow, or it could make a quick pivot. It could even be a blast into the future. What is your next move?

Perhaps you need to think about your priorities one day at a time, for today is a gift. Tomorrow will take care of itself as it waits for you with open arms and possibilities. What is most essential for you today?

What will help you meet the goals and dreams you have set for yourself? If you don’t have a clear plan, maybe that is the perfect place to stop the time machine and get off for a moment.

Take a rest and look at the beauty all around you. Even your tragedies have led you here, yet they’re in the past. They do not need to hold you there. They have a purpose, but the answer waits for the appointed time in your future.

However, we must be careful while searching for the answers to why, because that precious time consumed by searching is then lost.

We must trust that good is yet to come, especially in our hard times.

“They always say time changes things, but you actually have to change them yourself.”

— Andy Warhol, The Philosophy of Andy Warhol

Tragedy changes us. This present moment in history changes us. It’s time to use our talents, skills, and gifts to rise above life’s challenges and get on this time machine to change our future for us and our future generations.

Time is love

We must stop wasting time on the easy things. We can’t keep doing those things with little purpose.

We must stop this time machine at any moment to encompass the present time.

Whatever we feel in our spirit is for a reason:

• Bored: is that because our inner self is begging for our attention?
• Lonely: is it because we need to take the time machine to visit someone who has been on our minds?
• Stuck: is it because we desire to do something that we keep putting off until tomorrow?
• Hopeful: is it because we have been doing our best and trusting for a brighter future?
• Loving: is it because we’ve learned to stop the time machine for the present moment? We must learn to pause for those moments in time for whoever crosses our path.

If time is love, then there isn’t a minute to waste on things. We can use something but not people. People are the most precious gift of all time. We mustn’t give time all our attention. Therefore, we must use our time here to love people before anything else.

If we do nothing else in a day, but love like there is no tomorrow, then we have lived intending to stop chasing things that are a waste of time. Loving others is the most creative thing on earth.

Before the sun goes down today, who do you need to love like there is no tomorrow? Words are a powerful tool to express ourselves by writing or speaking. Let your loved ones know that they are loved and cherished more than anything. Express yourself before the sun goes down.

A south wind is coming, and a change is on the way. Hope for a brighter future and live like there is no tomorrow. It’s your time to shine.

I’m thankful for this opportunity to join this unique writing challenge organized by Flint and Steel; thank you.