The Gift Of Time
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
In light of recent personal and global losses, I’m reflecting on what's important and valued and how I want to spend my time. I’m thinking of this time as a reset button when the world has changed due to so many losses – tragic deaths, Covid-19, a cancer diagnosis – when everything is different – when I’m different.
Many grieving people say, “You know what I once thought was important isn’t important to me anymore.” I’ve heard people diagnosed with cancer say the same thing. There’s a need to re-prioritize, re-evaluate, and ask questions: “What gives me joy? Who puts into my bucket? Who diminishes me? What kind of person do I want to be? And what do I value?” I love the idea of a reset button with the choice to begin again, start over, and do things differently.
Sometimes though, I wonder if I’m not on auto-pilot when I repeat the same behavior day after day without thinking or doing anything differently. One of my favorite mindfulness techniques is to sit in a different chair in the living or family room or sit in another place at the table or breakfast bar. It’s a simple change, but the results can be surprising because you see things from a different angle or perspective. In asking participants in one of my Mindfulness Meditation workshops how they experienced this assignment, one participant said, “Well, I saw cobwebs I hadn’t seen before.” I love that comment because making a small change, like sitting in a different spot, allows me to be more fully present and to see things I might not otherwise see. It helps me turn the auto-pilot off and be intentional with my time and choices.
When I was nine years old I attended my brother’s high school graduation, and while I don’t remember the man’s name who gave the graduation address, I still remember the title of his speech, Whatcha Gonna Do with Whatcha Got? It’s not perfect grammar, but the message left a lasting impression. I’ve thought of that title often over the years as well as the quote, “For of those to whom much is given, much is required,” spoken by John F. Kennedy and paraphrased from Luke 12:48. The question and the statement imply there are choices to be made and responsibilities to be assumed.
This quote from Dave Hollis is especially relevant in times of so much change: “Use this time to consider which parts of normal are worth rushing back to.” I can decide what “normal” will look like in the future. I can use the reset button and decide what to do with the time I have. The gift of time is a pretty big gift. I don’t want to waste it, sleep-walk through it, or miss any of it. I want to cherish it and make the most of every second. That question from many years ago lingers with me today: Whatcha Gonna Do with Whatcha Got?