“Life is not lost by dying; life is lost minute by minute, day by dragging day, in all the thousand small uncaring ways.” –Stephen Vincent Benet.
“Life is not long, and too much of it must not pass in idle deliberation how it shall be spent.” –Samuel Johnson.
Most of us treat life like it’s either some sort of passing fad, a game without consequence, or we loath every passing day. And no matter our spiritual or philosophical bent we seem individually positioned to decide upon the minute; left to ponder in isolation what might be gained or loosed[1] to the moment ‘in our mighty name.’
But we live as our own gods to a dark, distant and silent peril. Looking back from an eternity that beckons before us... only then will we see with eyes of real vision—all those opportunities to do good, to experience life, and to serve others—an altogether supremely superior alternative.
I remember getting my first bodybuilding book as a nineteen year old. It was festooned with this theme of not wasting time. Every meal, every workout, every day was precious, for growth and health. It’s the same with our total, holistic lives—how we ‘visit’ our loved ones, colleagues, even strangers—with our presence—that’s how important our time is.
The best thing we can do to maximise our time as an investment for the future is to fully appreciate the role we have in others’ lives—family, work, and socially. Our relationships have that kind of special effect on us. They have the potential to fill us either with great joy or immense sadness.
Thinking and meditating on our successful interactions—but not in a big-headed way—helps us understand how important our time is, and how important we are, in the context of others’ lives. It boosts our confidence also as we see the positive influence we have. How lovely to see others blossom because of our discreet input!
Dying might be unavoidable but living is a choice. Simply live; love; laugh. Just don’t waste a minute of it.
© S. J. Wickham, 2009.
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