Time is one of those things that is just so complex and yet so simple, so important and yet so silly, so perfect and yet we hate it. I was told once that you know something is important to a culture when there are so many words for it, or ways to describe it. Time is so important to modern, especially American society. We are always worrying about what time it is, when we will do something, how fast or slow our day seems to be going, how we plan out our time, how long it takes for something to happen. We worry about timing, or lack there-of, and everyone, myself included, is so extremely impatient. Other cultures take time for daily siesta or self-reflection time, while us Americans refuse to give up our precious time for anything that seems 'unimportant'.
Has no one come to the conclusion that all of this worrying and thinking about our time, is actually taking up more time than taking the time to relax and do nothing? We are only given so much time of this earth. We are blessed with a mere average of 70-some years, we curse ourselves with constant business and monotony. What is the problem with taking a moment to just enjoy something whether it be nature, thoughts, the company of another, time to pray or meditate, or even a little extra sleep? Sure it takes time away from, 'important' things, but in the end, what is 'important?
I feel terribly hypocritical writing this, because I am the most guilty person I know when it comes to being busy, scheduling every moment of my life, never being spontaneous or choosing enjoying myself over 'important' things. But I am not writing just to other people or American society, I am also writing to myself. Taking leisure time and stopping hustle-and-bustle is a lesson I, most of all, need to learn. Scheduling, planing and organizing, (three of my favorite every-day words) will help me be successful, but will it help me be truly happy? The funny thing about that is, as I write I argue with myself, saying, "I am happy when I schedule, plan and get things done! I get a thrill from it!", and sure I do enjoy those things, but my happiness lacks the simplistic, fun, spontaneous, warmth that comes from doing something unexpected, relaxing, and enjoying life as is.
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