I’m a Pisces. You know, the fish
that swims in two directions. True to my sign, I look at almost everything from
multiple perspectives, including time. My basic belief is that “Time” does not
exist, except in the human mind. But, from another point of view, our awareness
of time passing (a uniquely human characteristic) seems to instigate so many
pressures and anxieties. Only one week of 2012 has come and gone and already
I’ve heard people joke, “Boy this year is moving fast.” Maybe it’s because it
was a “short week,” what with the New Year holiday, and the Rose Bowl, parade
and game, being moved from Sunday, January 1, to January 2. But did that shorten
anything, really?
When I was in my previous career, I
sometimes delivered Time Management workshops. I remember quoting the pundits
who cleverly observed, “Time is an equal opportunity resource. We all get the
same seven days a week. Nobody ever thinks they have enough, but each of us has
all there is, 168 hours.”
All true. The rub is, you never know when
your time is going to run out. Five years ago a medical miracle kept my
personal clock ticking and a close friend gave me the poem below, which he felt
was apropos. I agreed, and hung the poster on my kitchen wall. I take the time to read it every morning.
What
Will Today Bring
This is the beginning of a new Day.
God has given me this day to use as I
will.
What I do today is important, because I’m
exchanging a day of my life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone
forever, leaving in its place something I have traded for it.
I want it to be gain, not loss.
Good, not evil.
Success, not failure.
In order that I shall not regret the price
I paid for it.
Because the future is just a whole string
of nows.
