Time is slow but also fleeting. One minute you’re young and wishing for a certain milestone and the next you are wishing for time to stand still and not move forward. Sadly, this was the case last month when our precious Hooper crossed the rainbow bridge. It’s one thing you dread about being a dog parent. You know the day will come but hope it will be far into the future so you can continue to enjoy the special bond you have with the unconditional love of a pet. Just a few years ago we experienced the same with our boy Ti who left us way too early and prior to that Jim’s beloved Bo. 

Emotionally, we go through life with these connections of love, trust, bonds, and grief. I wish we never had to lose a loved one ever, but the cycle of life goes on and we need to cherish the memories of all the special moments we experience. 

We need to respect and cherish our time. I, for one, have difficulty with time. I either am rushing to get to an end or wishing to stop it in its tracks. Many times, I want to stay in the moment, like watching a beautiful sunrise or sunset. On the flip side, I often want time to speed up so I can enjoy something I have been waiting to do. Also, I frequently put off time when it’s a project I don’t want to do or a place I don’t want to go. 

When you have respect for time, you understand and develop a mindset that it’s a precious resource not to be wasted. Think back to relationships with loved ones and how you may have wished you had spent more time or given more of your attention. We cannot undo what has passed, so it’s important to recognize our opportunities and take every advantage of the time we are given. 

Perhaps age plays a large part in how I feel about time today. When we are young, we feel invincible and the time before us is endless. We are pushing to reach for the next significant event. Now I ask time to slow down and let me walk through it slowly so I can understand and see more clearly. I look forward to quiet times and the little joys in life. 

Looking towards meditation and mindfulness, we can shift our perception of time according to research by learning to be more attentive and savor the familiar details of our lives. Recognized expert on the topic of mindfulness, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. says, “The real meditation practice is every moment. It’s how we live our lives and how awake and aware we can be and how centered on awareness we are. Then we see how that influences the way we live our lives.” His thoughts are that mindfulness is pure awareness. It’s becoming aware of all around us, both the interior, exterior, and the inner and outer experience that leads us towards how we are going to conduct ourselves in the next moment. Otherwise, we are just on autopilot and being pulled around by outside sources and not living our lives as fully as we might. 

I encourage you to live mindfully and cherish all the moments in your life without trying to move time in any direction other than moment to moment. 

“I pass this world but only once; anything that I can do, or any kindness that I can show, let me do it now. Let me not defer it, for I shall not pass this way again.” – Unknown

“Cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey.” – Jack Layton

Robin Anne Griffiths–Founder of ReChargeMe Zone * Behavioral Change Specialist * Yoga Instructor * Meditation Facilitator * Personal Trainer * Author * Speaker * Helping people on a journey for change to live a fuller and healthier life. Find out more at www.rechargemezone.com.