Honorable TIME is the single most valuable gift that is entrusted us.
So, what is TIME? I know that it may be Things I May Enjoy, perhaps it may be Things I Must Endure, and I am sure that it will be Things I Must Experience, and recalling such experiences I must acknowledge the Tears In My Eyes and doing so I must remember to Teach, Inspire, Motivate and Empower others who come across my life’s pathway.
Someone shared that TIME is meaningfully forward-moving.
Anne-Marie Helmenstein once explained that “Physicists define time as the progression of events from the past to the present into the future. Basically, if a system is unchanging, it is timeless. Time can be considered to be the fourth dimension of reality, used to describe events in three-dimensional space. It is not something we can see, touch, or taste, but we can measure its passage.”
The human brain is equipped to track time.
“As far as the universe is concerned, time had a beginning. The starting point was 13.799 billion years ago when the Big Bang occurred. We can measure cosmic background radiation as microwaves from the Big Bang, but there isn’t any radiation with earlier origins. One argument for the origin of time is that if it extended backward infinitely, the night sky would be filled with light from older stars.”
Will time end? The answer to this question is unknown. If the universe expands forever, time would continue. If a new Big Bang occurs, our timeline would end and a new one would begin. In particle physics experiments, random particles arise from a vacuum, so it doesn’t seem likely the universe would become static or timeless. Only time will tell. *smile*
- Time is the progression of events from the past into the future.
- Time moves only in one direction. It’s possible to move forward in time, but not backward.
- Scientists believe memory formation is the basis for human perception of time.
Perhaps, Time is an observed phenomenon, by means of which human beings’ sense and record changes in the environment and in the universe. A literal definition is elusive. Time has been called an illusion, a dimension, a smooth-flowing continuum, and an expression of separation among events that occur in the same physical location.
Adding to our thoughts on time is Mitch Albom’s beautiful passage found in The Timekeeper:
“Try to imagine a life without timekeeping. You probably can’t. You know the month, the year, the day of the week. There is a clock on your wall or the dashboard of your car. You have a schedule, a calendar, a time for dinner or a movie. Yet all around you, timekeeping is ignored. Birds are not late. A dog does not check its watch. Deer do not fret over passing birthdays. Man alone chimes the hour. And, because of this, man alone suffers a paralyzing fear that no other creature endures. A fear of time running out.”
“Time is your most precious gift because you only have a set amount of it. You can make more money, but you can’t make more time. When you give someone your time, you are giving them a portion of your life that you’ll never get back. Your time is your life. That is why the greatest gift you can give someone is your time.”
— Rick Warren
From my own spiritual point of view, Time is real for God. It becomes the means through which He makes known His enduring love to humankind. On the other, time and humanity are immortal in the sense that both have a starting point and continue on indefinitely. God promises unending life with Him to those who believe in His redeeming work and unending separation from him.
Life is made of millions of moments, but we live only one of these moments at a time. As we begin to change this moment, we begin to change our lives.
–Trinidad Hunt
Life is beautiful, live it fully, live it wisely and change each moment meaningfully.
TIME by Julius Sevilla
Great article and video Jonathan! I have always had a fixation about time. Sometimes I have experienced slipping out of time and being in a state of observing and I have seen how much energy is wasted in regret of the past and worry for the future. Our power is in the present moment and it gets complicated trying to understand the depth of our power in the present if you do not understand our metaphysical world. We imagine the future in the present moment so it can be there in the next moment. I believe our power is knowing our imagination drives our destiny. When we envision a future of peace and prosperity, we create a potential in time for it to be so. The same goes for envisioning a future of destruction. Most leaders project a vision for the future through fear or love and this is what creates the movement forward in time. The more we share a common vision, the more collective potential is achieved for that vision. That’s why if we desire a world of peace, we should dream big!
Helen Heinmiller, thank you most kindly for sharing your insights and adding value to this ‘discussion”.
I do agree with you. Time is indeed very valuable, and whether we are stretching it, maximizing it, wasting it or spending it, time is a unique phenomenon. Factually, the most persistent element of our being time will not wait for us and therefore, we must maximize the time we have in our own individual way of enjoying it. Time is also the great equalizer.
I am reminded of a great quote by Aristotle
“We live in deeds, not years; in thoughts, not breaths; in feelings, not in figures on a dial. We should count time by heart throbs. He most lives who thinks most, feels the noblest, acts the best.”
thanks, Jonathan. Pleasure engaging in discussions with you. The quote you shared is wonderful.
Jonathan – Well said. To add to the discussion, I read a fascinating piece a few years ago titled “Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time” by Tony Schwartz and Catherine McCarthy. (Harvard Business Review) As the title indicates, the article argues that people can make better use of their time if (1) they are aware of what energizes them in life and work and (2) they seek to focus their attention and efforts there. The article offers a simple assessment of four energy components: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. In short, we need to look for ways to replenish our energy in these areas – otherwise we can quickly find ourselves on “E” and not making use of the precious amount of time we have.
Dear Jeff, thank you for adding to the discussion – I sincerely appreciate you sharing the article “Manage Your Energy, Not Your Time” by Tony Schwartz and Catherine McCarthy.
It was certainly a very good article, truly worth reading.
I believe that managing ones energy does have a very specific context to TIME. It is true that Time is a commodity we can’t afford to waste in life. Time for each one of us has an expiring date. “A time to be born and a time to die.” To be successful and great in life, one has to respect and value time. In that context, Effective Time Management gives a greater meaning and value to managing the ‘energies’ we have within the time we have. It takes time to set and achieve a personal goal or a corporate goal. Whatever the goal, Time is a determinant of its success.
When we manage our Time appropriately, we are then able to prioritize the tasks we need to do to achieve the result or success we want. Anything and everything can be said to happen only on the basis of time. Therefore, Time is the fabric on which the embroidery of life is woven.
What is important to us is the present time as we understand and value it. The future depends on how the present is utilized, and individual success depends on how the present time is utilized. Appreciating and valuing TIME is of the utmost important if and when we want to be a success in our private and corporate life.
Time is a determinant of its success. I appreciate the “a.” Well said.
Thank you most kindly Jeff for sharing important issues. Have a great week ahead.
What if we closed our eyes for just one moment and embraced that moment perhaps time would stop or slow down. Great article my friend. Strong Ink Indeed!!!
That is a wonderful thought Larry, thank you.
I can almost experience this while closing my eyes. It leads to the practice of mindfulness and allows us to reconnect to the present moment. Integrating our thoughts with our body sensations allows us to be present and aware. We shift our attention away from the incessant thoughts into our body. Of course, it takes practice and patience to become mindful, yet the rewards are certainly worth it.
“Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life.” Eckhart Tolle
Great insights
Jonathan – Beautifully written and boasts an important message – time is endless, we are not. Use it wisely. Thanks for sharing.
Len, thank you so much for your kind words and encouragement. You rightly point out that ‘time is endless – we are not’… I have seen so many instances when lives, especially the younger ones are snubbed out by senseless violence and natural disasters. We are so grateful to our Creator for gifting and entrusting this TIME into our care… what we do with it is truly our “gift” to Him, and that is why we should regard life as being sacred. Thank you again
Amen to that, my friend.