What Time Is There To Spare?
Have you ever heard of phrases like “time is of the essence” or “time is money?”
People always remind you how important time is. How some wish they had more of it so they can do the things they’ve always dreamed of. Essentially, people remind us that the most fun times are the moments when you are young, the here and now, and you should spend this time doing what makes you happy.
Makes sense, because after all, isn’t that the purpose of life, to be happy?
Throughout my years, I’ve heard enough cheesy phrases to want to take them solemnly. So when I was younger, I promised myself that once I got older, I would have all the time in the world to do all the fun, exciting activities I was too young to enjoy.
Ironically, the older I’ve become, the more time I’m losing. All the leisure activities I spent doing as a kid are now replaced with long hours of homework, followed by even lengthier hours of working, and other obligations I pursue in order to get ahead in life.
By the time I finish with my endless load of responsibilities and obligations, I find that there’s almost no time left for anything that makes me happy.
Many Miami Dade College students fall victim to this same dreadful habitual lifestyle, but why? Who created this energy-sucking cycle and told us that this is the price to pay for money, success, and the imposed American-dream version of “happiness?”
We all feel like the three things mentioned are the recipes for the secret formula to a better life, but what’s the point of working to the bone to acquire all those things when you never stop to place a soft cotton blanket on a patch of freshly-cut green grass, just to lay your head down and gaze at the clear, cloudless sky, which due to the nice weather up north, is utterly beautiful.
Do not deprive yourself of sacred time with yourself. Instead of seeking your phone when boredom strikes at the bus stop, sit and enjoy your surroundings and people-watch instead. But that wouldn’t solve your problems because many people are so busy they don’t even have the time sit and wait for a bus.
I want you to see that the issue at hand here is the imposed lifestyle that has been thrust upon us. It’s causing us to over complicate our lives and make us think that we aren’t productive enough.
Social media, a mass array of websites and various applications have redefined what it means to be “connected” in the 21st century. With our constant desire to stay connected, we are allowed front row seats into the lives of others. Consequently, thoughts like, “since everyone seems to be doing something (because their pictures and statuses say so) and I’m not, I’m doing something wrong” get to us. But not everything is what it seems.
The Dalai Lama is like an old wise Grandpa who spits truths of wisdom. He advocates how stillness (search what this means, you’ll be glad you did) in life is needed, and he isn’t lying.
I advocate you to disconnect yourself from the digital world and get back to the real one. Once you’ve done that, seclude into your world, and just relax in it for a while.
