Time- or Waste Not, Want Not.

June 14th, 2007 by b.reeder

The other night I had a conversation that started as many do, superficial and factual. But as I talked, I made a subtle change, and started saying things like “I feel like, I believe that, etc.”. And amazingly, some of those I was talking with did as well. This typical conversation turned into an emotional charged look at ourselves. And as the conversation progressed, I began to see something.

Some people are so concerned with how much money they make, what car they drive, where they live, who their friends are, etc. But as soon as you strip all that away and see someone for who they really are, they have NOTHING to say. They get uncomfortable and distant. You could have pointed at each person in the room and been able to tell whether they were concerned with supRA-ficial (opinions, feelings, etc.) issues and not just supER-ficial (money, possessions, pleasure, etc.) ones.

They were able to discuss things beyond haircuts, heels, and hiltons. Not just emotion, but also give opinion on other topics and discuss their future: goals, dreams, etc. It was incredible to see the superficial people squirm and awkwardly try to contribute.

I know that much of this difference can be because of past pains, experiences, and emotional trauma. But, I think it’s a mindset you choose to have or to not have. With those mindsets come different ways of thinking about things. And to me, the difference is time.

SupER-ficial mentality- “I’ll do it tomorrow, I’ll change tomorrow, they’ll change tomorrow, it’ll fix itself, I’ll get to it eventually.”

SupRA-ficial mentality- “I’ll do it today, I’ll change it today, I’ll take responsibility, I’ll try to make it better.”

This is my rant:

Time is so precious. It is any persons MOST valuable asset. It is the one thing that we can NEVER get back- you waste it, it’s gone. So why do people just sit around, stagnant in their pool of cheap comforts and meaningless pleasures? Unwilling and un-wanting anyone to rip them outside of that. Accomplishing enough to get them through that day- nothing more.

How dare they waste what others would give everything for more of? I’m not saying “no relaxation!”, EVERYONE needs that. But their is a difference between relaxing FROM doing something and relaxing AS doing something.

If it’s chilling out, splitting a bottle of wine, and watching a movie after being at work and on the go all day, great. If it’s chilling out, splitting a bottle of wine, and watching a movie after sleeping and surfing the internet all day, I don’t get it. Once in a while, for sure, lazy days are needed. But when you’re lazy days start outnumbering your productive days, find something to do!! When the focus of your life is to just to get that pleasure or that comfort, I think something is missing.

I’ll leave you with this-

If you were on your deathbed and someone said “for all your money, I’ll give you another year.” Another year to be with those close to me, doing things I enjoy?

Who would hesitate?

Now imagine that question is posed to an 8 year old terminal cancer patient, who hasn’t been able experience all the joys, frustrations, loves, and sorrows of a full life. Do you think he would be spending that time doing only what comes easy?

“Men talk of killing time, while time quietly kills them.” -Dion Boucicault

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