Lost Time

Time is such a strange concept. I know that there are 60 seconds in each minute, 60 minutes in each hour, and 24 hours in each day, but it certainly doesn't feel like there is the same amount of time in each day. Let me explain myself better. Back in middle school, the last half hour of seventh period was literally eternal. The clocks seemed frozen in place, and I had time to zone out, finish all my homework, read, go fill my water bottle, ask for permission to go to the school library, do an entire workout routing, you get the idea. Other times, it seems like 30 minutes is not enough time for anything at all. Either way, 30 minutes is 30 minutes regardless of what you're able to get done. I'm personally against hustle culture, or feeling like you have to be productive 24/7 (more on that later), but I also see how precious time is. If I spend 30 minutes laying in bed doing nothing, that's 30 minutes I could have spent on creating memories with my family, on a hobby, or something that would make me more content. Each minute in our lives is unique, you can never live through that exact moment again. How much time have you spent mindlessly scrolling through tiktok (or pinterest), or being mad at a friend or family member, or feeling down about yourself or the state of the world? We waste time as if we have an infinite amount of it, and this puts us in a position to feel guilty later on about all the things we didn't do, the time we didn't spend with loved ones, talents that we didn't develop, all because we were doing what? Wasted time takes on a different form for everyone. I think that spending a morning reading is time well spent, while to a busy mom of 4 that might be a complete waste of time, so we have to remember not to judge those around us harshly about how they spend their time. I do think however, that figuring out what you value and love is immensely important in determining how you spent the time you do have. I value family and art for example, so to me, spending all summer outdoors with my siblings is the most reasonable way to spend time, or setting apart 20 minutes to crochet or paint. One thing is for sure: time is more valuable than money, fame, promotions, and whatever else is deemed valuable in society, and once it's lost, it's gone forever.