Time - My Favorite Word

As I was scrolling my Facebook feed this morning I got stuck at a status a dear friend had posted on her timeline.

It read “Intent. One of my favorite words, ever. What’s yours?”

I glanced at it long enough and multiple words popped out but none convincing enough for me. I then got back to my daily chores not really thinking about it.

As a matter of habit, I was sitting on a side sofa soaking in the morning rays delighting in the warmth the sun brings along. At that moment, a thought popped in. The word ‘Time’ suddenly struck me. 

A difficult one just passed, I thought to myself. And I’m hoping it’s all over.

I then realized time had seemed slightly longer the previous day. It usually appears to be lengthened or shortened subject to what’s the situation we are in.

Time is my favorite word, I identified. 

A thief, I squirmed at first. Time is a thief. The one who stole many of my happy experiences, snatched my closest people, seized my child like curiosity, took away the energy of the younger me and left me with regretful years.

But, hey wait. Was it really the crook?

No, maybe not really.

Time has instead been a giver. Precious family members, blissful moments, unforgettably delightful vacations, meaningful long term bonds, inspiring relationships, wonderful opportunities, little daily joys, tons of hope are all things I have received and am truly grateful for.

Time did take & it did give. And in the stretch in between it let me heal. 

Time sure is a healer. The age old advice for any heart break, loss or damage is that it’s a phase and it’ll get better. It gets better not in a manner that makes you not think of what happened but in a way that you start accepting whatever it be with no hard feelings. One gets a chance to deliberate and reflect from different dimensions and move on.

How did I move on?

Time is the perfect nudger. It threw me in situations that pushed me move out of my comfort zone. It moves us to start something that we have been wanting to for the longest period. It prods us to adopt those tiny habits that bring in the larger impacts. It subtly influences one’s choices without quite making you feel the lack of anything. Be it planned or unplanned change, you begin to re-examine life and consider what truly matters most.

How then does it effect?

Time is but an agent of change. It taught me to be self- aware, to develop an inward mind-set. It turned me from someone who had inhibitions expressing to someone who loves to express. It has a lot of power. It can get the mighty down to a meek or turn the bankrupt to a billionaire. It can build empires or get them crashing under.   

Time is that fleeting gift – that’s mine and yet not wholly mine. 🙂