The relevance of time

I have found that as I grow up, time has evolved into something I am forever trying to figure out. As soon as I think I have, I am once again proven wrong.


Example A: The "average" work week. 5 days long. 8 hours a day. Nothing rocket science about this. However, have something exciting waiting for you at the end of that week, and it feels like eons before you get done. Or have trying projects, coworkers, customers, etc and the week feels like purgatory where you can't pray enough for it to be done.


Example B1: The weekend. If there is nothing of significance going on, a weekend can feel like it lasts f-o-r-e-v-e-r. Not that you want Monday to get here any quicker, but you certainly don't want to get ready for bed and realize it is only 7p.

Example B2: The weekend. On the polar side of this, you have the weekend that follows the former part of "Example A." You wait all week for the weekend like a kid waits for Christmas morning and Santa. When it finally gets here, you are beside yourself with joy. You wake up early and go to sleep late to maximize your ability to enjoy it. But despite your best efforts, Monday is knocking on your door and got your alarm in on the plot for kicking your ass and making it feel like you were just in a time warp that didn't actually happen. All you have are faint memories and gummie bears as proof of the joy that passed too swiftly.

Example C: The promise. As as adult, we tend to be cynically hopeful. While it doesn't seem like a logical combination, it is. Take my word for it. Work promises us, family promises us, friends promise us. We are hopeful that things follow through, but we are doubtful just in case they don't. "Hope for the best, but expect the worst" is a pretty clear way of putting it.

Example D: The year. Ever January we make lists of how this year is going to be different. How we are going to improve our lives, act different, eat different, work different, date different, etc. And then, before we know it, Spring is upon us with it's dewy glow of hope for something wonderful. Summer follows close after, not missing a beat, comforting us with its warm embrace. Fall sneaks up on us, lets us think that we have some more time left to hang out with Summer, only to realize that while we were distracted with the warmth, the smells, the food, everything around us changed. And before we are even able to get our barrings on what just happened, winter swoops in with is bitter attitude and slaps us in the face. Reminds us who is boss. We bundle up. Find our layers. Huddle together for warmth wondering where the year went and what we did with it.

On the plus side, I was actually quite productive with my year and pleased as to where I am at the moment. Made a lot of life decisions, and they seem to be working out for the better. However, in regards to Example C, when someone tells you a time frame for something to be done, multiply that by two and a half (minimally) and then be prepared to expect exactly that, if not longer. THAT, my friends, has been my most recent disappointment with time.