Time is something we cannot get back; we can’t buy it, freeze it or rewind it. It simply is, now, in this moment. And is it not time that makes life worth living? for time is life, isn't it?
Several things have made me think about my own relationship with time lately, primarily untimely death. If I were to die tomorrow what would it be – in that split second between breath and peacefulness – that I would wish for?
I would wish for time: to be with those I love, to laugh with girlfriends over wine, to stand in the shadow of a golden sunset holding hands, soaking up the soft sea breeze and those last beautiful droplets of a late summer’s day. I would want time to not just hear my daughter’s infectious laugh, but be within it, submerged.
Today I walked a local loop walk with my daughter and our dog; across fields, through the grounds of a farmhouse, over pretty canal bridges and along a peaceful towpath littered with the soggy fallen leaves of a disappearing Autumn. We talked, we admired, we collected leaves and berries, we shared a homemade bun, we climbed trees. But mostly we just breathed in the unseasonably warm day fully; the soft quietness of a fine mist, welcome patches of blue sky, an occasional bright sunray.
I thought: ‘I’m so glad I have time to hear the birds – I mean really hear them – time to listen to my heart. Time to listen to life.’
It wasn’t always this way, I didn’t always have time. Often I was buried in work or rushing about restlessly, filling my days with this and that, but then we decided to move onto a narrowboat. Not just because we fancied the idea of living on water, but because - for us - it was a lifestyle choice, and that lifestyle affords us what I believe to be the most precious element of life.
Time.
And for that I am grateful.
18 comments:
Did you say wine with girlfriends??? Hell yes!!
Beautiful piece of writing darl xxx
I did indeed darl! Roll on December!!!
love you lots xxx
Really lovely.
And so true.
How perfectly right you are and so eloquently expressed. I have yet to talk to someone who's life is at its close who has said I wish I had made that last sale, and I have yet to take a funeral where the hearse has been followed by a removal van.
You have discovered just what is important, the majority never will because they would prefer to work non-stop in order to tell others about their gourmet meal in a fashionable restaurant to a home-made bun with their family.
You have stopped to smell the roses, I do hope others are likewise inspired by your words!
Thank you Pamela. Sometimes it's so easy to forget, but at times I am reminded and immensely thankful for the lifestyle choices we have made. x
Peter, Thank you so much for your long and thoughtful comment - and welcome! I agree - I often think that many people seem so fretful at the thought of not having what others have, of not having those material items in their life, that they miss out on so much else. Of course, sometimes I forget how lucky we are... but then there are days when the realisation of what our lifestyle choices bring to our family life hit home, and I feel so amazingly grateful. There may not be a fashionable restaurant in our sight, but a homemade bun with my family is worth so . much . more .
I hope you will stop by again :-)
Beautifully written. Makes me think about my hurried, harried life! Altho at least I do sometimes get the chance for a Towpath walk with my little girls.
What a lovely post!
I get my "time" on my morning walks with the dog - just me and the countryside in all its glory. I love this time of year. This afternoon the whole family including the dog are going on the long version of the walk we did last week, can't wait! Let's hope the sun keeps shining :D
A1x
Thank you lovely Peggy... you have the beautiful towpath as your doorstep and I know you too get to enjoy it when you can :-) I think we have spent the last few years gradually slowing down, so that now it totally is a way of life (mostly). Maybe we will come to a complete standstill one of these days - ha ha! x
Alicey - thank you! And you most certainly do have the most gorgeous countryside on your doorstep to enjoy. I always love walking across those fields - no matter the season. We have just enjoyed a long walk with some other boaters and their dog and we keep remarking how WARM it is for November! I'm sure your walk will be glorious :-) enjoy x
A beautiful and timely post, Alice. This is so heartfelt and meaningful. Keep being the amazing and wonderful you! xx
Thank you Carol... I am going to be watching your journey unfold with much happiness! x
Sounds perfect.
I have those moments walking the dog on one of the nearby beaches. The smell of the sand, watching the children, dogs, horses and surfers enjoying the beach for their own reasons and never fails to remind me what's important.
Hello Alice,
sounds good to me. It takes time to reach though, doesn't it. You and your family, and I, have stepped off the ladder and let space and time come to us gradually, and with much fretful anxiety sometimes - what happens now? What do I do next? This is so unfamiliar. The way we are all tuned to live is not easy to change.
But slowly, gently, it arrives, the day when you find you have just stopped and gazed, not thinking, just looking and listening, and you have no idea for how long.
I can remember the time when I would have thought that was pretty crazy, and such a waste of time, and I am very grateful to have found the resolve to just stick at it until it came naturally. How different my life is now.
You will inspire others, you are young, you are showing it can be done, there are alternative ways to live and they are so rewarding. Well done.
Love,
Liz x
How timely that I'm reading this right before Thanksgiving.. it's so true.. I try to tell myself daily that time is precious and that we must make the most of every moment. Thank you for the reminder and the inspiration!
Thank-you for this powerful thought provoking article.
Darren.
Debs, you definitely have it right... having just spent a few glorious days at the beach I couldn't agree more :-)
Liz - thank you for your wonderful comment. I agree with everything you say and it's strange, now we are here - in a position where we are more time-rich, I can't imagine returning to a life where we rush around meeting up for brief moments in between. So, we will continue on this journey - no matter the anxiety (of which there can be plenty!) - and keep working towards living a life where we have time to stop and appreciate. I know you too are always working towards this. Wonderful :-) xx
Thank you Saucy Suz! I hope you enjoyed (enjoying) Thanksgiving!
Thank you Darren for your comment - it's always nice to feel that in some small way my waffling words connect with others :-)
This is beautiful Alice and it reminds me of this article I read recently, which if you haven't already seen, you'll love. http://addicted2success.com/success-advice/the-top-5-regrets-in-life-by-those-about-to-die/
Keep writing, it's beautiful stuff.
That is the second time someone has mentioned that article to me this week, and it is really powerful and has made me stop and think about my own life!
Thank you for your lovely comment Rose and how true are the points raised in that article?! It's hard in reality to live the way we believe we want to in our heart, but it's good to try ;-) x
Peggy - indeed... we can all but try ;-) xx
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