Reflections: Time Long Past…
“The only reason for time is so that everything doesn’t happen at once.” Albert Einstein
Reflections: Time Long Past... Where did it all go?
Most of us fret about time; our lack of it, our need for it, our wish for more of it, our fears that it is running out, our regrets for time we believe we wasted, lost or never realized was passing… Most of our reactions around time often occur after the fact … hence our pondering like Shelley about time long past. If we knew we had more time than we actually have, what would we do with it? If we could stop the clock to complete a task, what would we actually do? When we read about prioritizing our time so we can accommodate everything that needs to be done, where do we find the time to make the changes and what do we let go?
Time Long Past by Percy Bysshe Shelley
Like the ghost of a dear friend dead
Is Time long past.
A tone which is now forever fled,
A hope which is now forever past,
A love so sweet it could not last,
Was Time long past. Contd below
Far too often, we expend much energy bemoaning our loss of precious time when we could be focused on correcting a situation and moving forward. Quite frankly, I believe we should enjoy the time we have and use it wisely, as there is no time for regrets. More below. 🙂
“Since time is the one immaterial object which we cannot influence–neither speed up nor slow down, add to nor diminish–it is an imponderably valuable gift.” Maya Angelou
Reflections: Time Long Past... One of the first pocket watches - Nuremberg Egg. Where did time go?
Time Long Past by Percy Bysshe Shelley
There were sweet dreams in the night
Of Time long past:
And, was it sadness or delight,
Each day a shadow onward cast
Which made us wish it yet might last–
That Time long past.
Of late, time has become a source of some concern for me as I’ve taken on a new and demanding physical project. I’m also concerned about my blog friends and my need to get back to commenting… oh and on time. At the end of the day, and sometimes in between, it is not time calling me but rest and that we must all take. When we nurture ourselves by taking the necessary rest, without regrets, we return refreshed and ready to tackle the work ahead, including keeping up with our community and commitments. It will require some effort and time adjustment; which will be a good thing in the long run… So, please bear with me. 😉
“Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away.” Marcus Aurelius
Reflections: Time Long Past... Sundial Taganrog... Don't waste time on regrets... act.
Time Long Past by Percy Bysshe Shelley
There is regret, almost remorse,
For Time long past.
‘Tis like a child’s belovèd corse
A father watches, till at last
Beauty is like remembrance, cast
From Time long past.
When we are enjoying our lives and skipping along merrily with nary a concern about time, we don’t stop to look back at the clock or wonder what to keep and where to make a shift… Our visit to that place of time long past comes after we have settled down for the night or have a moment of quiet or boredom or of unfinished business. If we need more time, where would it come from? Frankly, the way I see it is that we either make time or have to rework an existing schedule to fit our new time shifts… That we can all do with a bit of extra manoeuvrings. Longing for time long past is a waste of time… 😉
What are your thoughts? Is your time well spent? Do you regret any of the time you’ve used in your lifetime? If you need more time, where would it come from? Do share! Thank you. 😉
This post was inspired by a prompt from WP Daily Post: If you needed more time, where would you take from? Lets say you had an emergency this week that required you to spend an hour, every day, taking care of something you don’t currently do. Where would that time come from? What would you drop first?
Positive Motivation Tip: Enjoy the time you have and use it wisely, there is no time for regrets.
Related articles
- Time Lost In The Weeds & Wilderness (nrhatch.wordpress.com)
- Musings: Staving Off Boredom… (eof737.wordpress.com)
PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos Earliest pocket watch – Nuremberg Egg, Clock at Kings Rd Sta, Sundial, via Wikipedia
Until Next Time…
Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet
More sleep time would be a nice gift. All the best to your new physical project…:)
Yes TY! I used to be a night owl and now I’m on an entirely shifted schedule which, while a good thing, is wrecking havoc on my blog commenting… All new things need adjustments and it will work out. Happy Holidays! 🙂
Time is always the vehicle for contemplation and action.
The poem is so sad because it reflects the core sense of our humanity and its fragile existence. Time wil for ever be, while we are only stardust and fleeing memories of beautiful places; and time gone by.
Yes, it is quite the sad poem depicting how we become filled with remorse and regret when we think bout opportunities lost and time long past… I couldn’t find a cheerful time poem which was my original goal… Now that’s an interesting thought. TY! 😉
Well Liz, you know after your posting on the question of a glass being half full or half empty, that a rather sad poem would be just what the doctor ordered for me. 🙂
But on a positive note…
I hope you have a very, very, beautiful Sunday my friend, and I love all the beauty and thoughtfulness your bring into my life 🙂
Walter
Oh TY Walter! You are such a delightful creative and you know, it comes with the territory… creativity and angst. 😆
I will catch up on yours and every other blog soon… Promise. Happy Holidays! 🙂
For me, Sunshine, it would be more time asleep! Elizabeth, I wish you the best in your new physical project!
TY! Sherilyn and don’t give up on me as I will catch up… More sleep needed though. 🙂
Happy Holidays! 🙂
So grateful, I am a person who needs little sleep. Still at 75 am definitely running out of time.
Let me also say that your blog posts are works of beauty, and each could be divided into equally beautiful, but shorter posts. That might safe yo a bit of time for you physical project. Good luck.
Katherine, did I read 75 correctly? Now I’m impressed and should stop bemoaning time long past… 😉 We are all running out of time… and I find the thought of it exhausting. 😆
TY for your sweet comments about my blog. I do need to make some effort to write some short shorts for the blog. I like the idea of breaking them up into shorter pieces… Will work on that. Thanks again.
Happy Holidays! 🙂
drop first? music.
drop last? reading your articles …
Oh you are so kind! i enjoy your blog too and grateful for the friendship. 🙂
Happy Holidays! 🙂
I don’t regret the time because I have great family.
That is true too… When we are surrounded by love, time doesn’t matter. 😉
Happy Holidays! 🙂
SInce there were no mechanical clocks until the 1300’s I wonder what life would have been like previously when all that existed to tell time were things like Roman water bowls, Asian water mechanisms, sundials and such. I remember reading that originally the only clock in most towns was the town clock and it rang once at the top of each hour because most people were illiterate and could not count. I can’t help thinking life was simpler and not so frenetic when there was a lesser awareness of time especially out in the country where sunup and sundown were the main indicators of the passage of time.
Yes, you have a point there. I was also thinking that in cultures that aren’t as obsessed with time as the US and other parts, the pace is healthier and slower. 🙂
Happy Holidays! 🙂
I posted on the good use of time yesterday! 😀 nrhatch.wordpress.com/2011/12/03/
TY Nancy! I will definitely read and comment soon. 🙂
Happy Holidays! 🙂
In Western culture we are time obssessed and that is why people feel the additional burden and stress. Like James wrote, it must have been simpler and more in tune with nature back in the day.
I often have to tell mysef to slow down and breathe. If I can’t don it all in the requisite, I get to it tomorrow.
Life goes on. Great post.
B
Yes, for cultures that are tied to the earth, the pace is slower and more in tune. 🙂 TY!
Happy Holidays! 🙂
Is there ever enough time? I’ve given up that hope. I try to do it wisely and I’m not always successful, but no regrets.
Thanks!
b
There’s never enough time… and less time for regrets. 🙂
Happy Holidays! 🙂
I try not to but lately, maybe because of the move, I’ve been pondering the future, wondering where the time (the past) has gone what I’ve done with it. But, I really try not to feel like the person in Shelley’s poem. Thanks for this post, Elizabeth.
TY too Marcia… time is a constant in our lives even when we choose to not let it dominate our space… Happy Holidays! 🙂
I don’t regret most of the time I’ve spent in my life overall, but I am definitely in a time of reorientation. I’m coming to realize I need some time to do nothing–absolutely nothing. Not comment on blogs, not edit, not Facebook, nothing but sit and be with those around me. I’ve been feeling horrible about how I can never keep up on blogs–at least, I felt horrible until I realized this is last on my list of priorities. I love blogging. I truly do. But this needs to be where I spend my time after I’ve fed my soul, my family and my project writing. I don’t know exactly how I’m going to live that yet, but the first step is by being OK knowing I’m going to miss lots of blogs, and enjoy the ones I do get a chance to read. 🙂
I hear you… it does become overwhelming and then we have to do what’s best. 🙂
Happy Holidays! 🙂
Time…..I am thankful for now having time to enjoy and reflect on all the beauty in life…making new friends…seeing old friends…Time can be so busy sometimes in our life….priorities are important…but we need to make time to enjoy life 🙂
Glad to hear from you and pray all is well with you… Time is precious and we must make the best of it. 🙂
Happy Holidays! 🙂
Time is relative.. it depends where one’s priority is… I enjoy time being alone to re energize or re connect and then there are moments where i want to be with others etc.
I limit myself in the cyber world as well…. Great post.. your place is always interesting and creative.. Love it
TY Savira! I agree with you on how we use our time…. otherwise, it can quickly become problematic. 🙂
Happy Holidays! 🙂
I need an extra day a week – and I have no idea where I am going t get it from! 🙂