Time Passing

It’s November and time has flown by once again. There is no stopping it, no pausing it, no slowing it down. It seems as I get older, and I know others will echo this sentiment, time seems to pass by quicker and quicker. I have often wondered why that is; why does time seem to go by quicker the older we get? Is it the fact that as we get older our senses slow down even though the pace of time stays the same? Or is the fact that we have more and more that occupies our daily routines that it diverts our attention from what really matters right in front of us and being present in the here and now? Maybe it is both? I know that there are times that days fly by without me even noticing because I have 10,000 things to do and am trying to stay ahead of my own schedule so I don’t forget things. I lament these days, the days where I actually stay on top of things and get everything done that I need to. This may sound strange, but I actually enjoy the days more where I miss some things, push others off, and don’t actually accomplish everything on my list. Those days I am more cognizant of the world around me, I stay present more, watch the leaves shift on the trees with a gentle breeze. I see the sunlight cast strange shadows on the ground through ever more barren branches as I drive down the road. As long as I don’t push everything off and make net progress towards my list, I consider that a success.

With time flying by, I make the time every day to sit with my children, enjoy their company, talk, and be present because I know that within a few short years, they will be leaving our house, moving on, and starting their own independent lives. My presence with them is what matters to me right now, not everything else. That is all secondary and most of it can be pushed off to another day. I am a procrastinator by nature, but this is measured procrastination, the type that allows more space for me during the day to regain focus and be present. If I can instill in my children how to be present, to enjoy the moment, then nothing else will matter. If they can find joy every day, experience the present, then no matter where they end up in life, they will be fine. I think they are getting there, especially when I spend time with them every afternoon. Its about being a little laid back, not trying to fill my day with constant activity, and show them how to unwind.

To start the day off the right way, I choose every day to walk in the woods, to think without noise, to be present, to enjoy as much as possible. I do this because I know we only have limited time here, only so much allotted that we have to live, and we never know how long we have to live. At the Mass for All Saints/All Souls day at the church we attend, they have a tradition of reading the names of all that have passed and had their funeral over the past year at the church along with their ages. It always hits me when I hear of the 30 and 40 year old’s who have passed, that could be me or someone I know. There aren’t many, but they are still there and just go to prove that we can never count on tomorrow, we can only make the best of today. So I choose to do that, to try and slow down the passing of time, even though I know I can’t, by enjoying as much of it as possible. At least I give myself the illusion of slowing time down. Remarkably, it allows me to remember more as I can process what happens during the day over a longer period of time rather than cramming too much in. Some days I succeed, others I don’t, but at least I try.