Reflections on Time
Life is a fleeting thing–one day here, the next day gone. And the truth is: it can all change in the matter of a second. Your health can change. Your wealth can change. YOU can change. There is a saying in Greek: Τίποτα δεν είναι αιώνιο (Nothing is eternal). In classical and biblical Greek, the concept of “eternal” (αἰώνιος, aionios) is closely tied to the idea of an “age” or “epoch,” emphasizing a perpetually long but ultimately bounded period rather than absolute, unending foreverness. Therefore, the notion that “nothing is eternal” aligns with the Greek linguistic and philosophical understanding that existence is often age-bound and not infinite in endless sense. Unlike the English word “eternal,” which implies infinite duration without beginning or end, Greek aionios is context-dependent and can mean an extended but finite epoch or a state deeply connected to a particular age or reality (such as the quality of divine life) (Bible.org) . Eternity in Greek is nuanced, and about life itself,
Growing up in the LDS (Mormon) Church I was always taught that life was eternal, and our spirits are eternal. In Mormon theology, the concept of eternity is understood as endless time that is eternal in identity and self-existence. It is not merely a state of being without beginning or end, but rather a state of being that is everlasting and without cessation. Mormons believe that God, being eternal, is directly involved in creation and has a past, present, and future, yet he is also eternal in identity and self-existence. This understanding contrasts with traditional views that may suggest God is outside of time, as Mormons affirm that God is present and active in all aspects of creation. (BYU.edu). It’s an adjective rather than a noun.
Time is an interesting thing–at times, it feels endless, and at other times, we blink, and we don’t recognize how many minutes/days/years have passed. I’ve heard when we’re younger time seems to last long, but when we’re older, days seem to drag, while weeks/months/years feel fleeting. Truthfully, time is a manmade way of measuring life. Giving it meaning. The Oxford Dictionaries say, “Time is the continuous progression of existence that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, and into the future.” For most of the Western World, time is considered linear, while for many Native people, it’s cyclical–it comes in waves. There are cultures on this planet that have no word for minute or hour; where a moment can last a whole morning.
As people, we have a fascination with time. There are songs, poems, and books about the topic–probably because no one truly understands what time means. We are fascinated with the idea of Time Travel. We’ve all experienced deja vu, which is the sensation that we have experienced something before, even though we have not. It is thought to be the equivalent of a small brain “glitch,” with two streams of thought colliding. Deja vu comes from French, meaning “already seen.” Quality Time is one of The Five Languages: it’s my #1 love language, spend time with me, and you have me!
Eternity explains why we feel instant connections with people we’ve never met before, or “soul” connections with certain people in our lives. Poet, William Carlos Williams said, “Time is a storm in which we are all lost.” Truly, no one understands the meaning of time because the definition is based on the individual.
Time is fleeting. Often, it takes with us our beauty, our youth, and our health. We could have those in an instant, and they can be taken away the next. I am a firm believer that age is just a number, and you’re only as old as you feel. My soul has always been on the older side. We live in a society obsessed with looking young–by any means necessary, whether surgical or injection. I don’t consider myself exceptionally beautiful, but I find beauty in aging with dignity and grace–there is beauty in our scars–they show our life experiences. We should not be afraid of aging. Aging is beautiful. Our scars and wrinkles preserve the life we’ve lived, and they are a reflection of what made us who we are.
Time is primarily measured in spans or periods, ordered from shortest to longest. The use of time is an important issue in understanding human behavior, education, and travel behavior. Time-use research is a developing field of study. The question concerns how time is allocated across a number of activities (such as time spent at home, at work, shopping, etc.). Time use has changed with technological advances, as the television or the Internet created new opportunities to use time in different ways. However, some aspects of time have remained relatively stable over long periods of time. We use time to sequence. Time happens in series and has causality.
Time is considered a resource, and our use of time is often closely monitored by ourselves or outside entities. We often wish for more time. Yet, how are we spending it? Are we working 80 hours a week? Are we fostering relationships that are important to us, Are we using time productively, or is our time spent ineffectively? We often are so busy thinking about what’s next, each moment lives on top of the previous and future one–time has no breath in our lives. Take a moment. Breath.
Dr. Stephan Rechtschaffen, M.D., cofounder and director of the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, warns that our emotions are taking a back seat to the rapid pace of our lives. He argues, “A curious thing happens as the pace of our lives grows faster and faster-our definition of a “moment” grows shorter and shorter, moving our awareness of time into ever-tinier increments. By cramming each moment so full of events, we leave ourselves no time to actually experience them in any meaningful way.” If our past is devoid of experience, and our future filled with anxiety, the only place to go? Into the present. There are many philosophical movements that suggest we live more in the now. We be more in the present in the moment we are living–the past is gone, and the future hasn’t happened. We cause ourselves anxiety considering future possibilities, and we stress over events which have already happened. It’s important to breathe, and act upon the cliche: one breath at a time. One moment at a time. One day at a time.
Rechschaffen believes, “Each of us is born into and raised in a particular “time world”–an environment with its own rhythm to which we entrain ourselves. Certain cultures have related to time as a circular phenomenon, in which there is no pressure or future anxiety. The whole of existence goes around: the cycle of the seasons, of planting and harvesting, the daily return of the sun, of birth and death.” He argues those who live in cultures that live in cyclical time have less stress because they don’t fear death, and the past is part of the future. Everything lives in harmony.
Time is freedom. Why? Because time is a matter of perspective. How you define time, and how you spend your time, is up to you. No one can tell you you’re wrong or right, because time is just existence. The real question time poses: how do you define it, and how are you spending it? How can you feel totally alive based on your views of time? The idea of timelessness means to not be restricted by a certain time or date (dictionary.com). So, be you. Do time your way. BE TIMELESS!
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