I had an extra day off from work this week, which made me stop to think about the concept of time. When I have “extra” time given to me by way of a day off, I often feel more pressure to use it wisely. I want to get many things done in order to feel accomplished. My primary self-preservation temptation is to enjoy my day in the interest of self-care. I want to read a good book or watch a movie. Then my driven brain wants me to think of downtime as wasted time, so I feel guilt. That extra “day off” turns into a battle between industry and relaxation.
Interestingly, on this day off, I watched the movie “Soul” on Disney plus. The movie has some amazing messaging about time and how we let it pass without notice because we are laser-focused on our future.I won’t give away the story, but the lessons that it offers are profound. There are lessons about living life in the moment and seeing the beauty around us. It teaches that we often miss the things that mean the most because we are chasing after some future conquest. Make the time to watch this movie. You will not be disappointed.
The definition of time is “The indefinite continued progress of existence and events in the past, present, and future, regarded as a whole.”
The thing that stands out to me in the definition is the word “whole”. It is the whole life that we need to appreciate. Little things can be most important — time with family and friends and appreciation of the little things like health. Large things like career goals, education, or big dreams, while crucial, are just a part of the whole. All things that take time to accomplish, all things that need to be noticed and appreciated. Living well means living whole.
Set goals and work towards them, but do not forget to notice the journey. Do not beat yourself up for downtime and self-care. If you do not take care of yourself, you will not have the ability to reach big goals. Goals and dreams are something to work for, not necessarily the end game. If you set a lofty goal and then reach it, you will quickly find out that the goal does not change your true self. The destination is often less exciting than the journey.
Think about your time this week and notice the “whole.” What things are you missing because you are in a hurry to get to your future? Are you missing your present to get to the end? Take time to live in and be present, then appreciate and reflect on your past. Embrace your “whole” time because time does not wait for you.
Dr. Julie Cappel
No comments:
Post a Comment