Wednesday, October 9, 2013

The Value of Time

Time, often subject to many controversial definitions, is a subject studied by philosophy, science, and religion. Time has been studied continuously throughout the years and many philosophers disagree on how "time" is even defined. Some view time as a sequence of events. Not everything is happening all at once. Thus, time places events in the order that these events occur. Others say that time cannot be measured because it is not a "thing" or "event." While time can be viewed in many different ways, to me, time holds greater value than much else.

How you spend your time is one of the most important things you can focus on. What you do with your time, ultimately, defines who you are. For example, that job you have probably takes up a good portion of your time. Most jobs are not going to be perfect, but spending your time working for a company that betters you- teaches you new skills, keeps you interacting with interesting people, or challenges you in some way, is probably a job worth your time. Even jobs that are not enjoyable, may be worth your time, as long as you can take something away from the experience. Many people choose jobs or career paths solely on monetary value. What these people don't realize is that their time is more valuable than any amount of money they will make. If you work day in and day out at a job you hate, does that mean you are "successful?" Rather, choosing a job based on passion over money, will bring you much more satisfaction. Especially if you work for a company you believe is making the world a better place. You will then feel as if you are spending your time wisely, rather than just passing it away. It is important to note that some jobs may be worth your time, for a time, but may not be worth your time forever. Once something is no longer bringing you value, it is time to move on. The experiences you have from what you spend your time doing, all contribute to how you view the world and how you interact with those around you.

I think that life is all about experiences and it is all about your attitude toward those experiences. You can spend your time worrying about the future or regretting the past. Or you can spend your time focusing on now. A positive outlook will take you far and having a "half-full" mentality is just as important as how you spend your time.

All anyone really has is time. You have a certain amount of time to do everything you want to do and become the person you want to become. While not everyone has the same amount of time on this earth, it is how you spend your time, whatever amount you may have, that matters. 20 fulfilling years is worth more than 100 years of unhappiness. The best thing about the value of time is the fact that the choice is yours. If you enjoy how you spend your time, it won't matter how long you live or how long it takes you to do something.

It is also important to realize that one of the greatest gifts you can give is your time. Because time is so valuable, spending that limited time you have with someone, shows them that you care. Money and gifts don't really mean anything. I guarantee that you will gain someone's love and trust by spending time with them rather than spending money on them. The best parents are those that take their kids out in nature and spend time teaching them that it is the simple things that bring the most happiness; not the parents that buy their kids all the newest toys and technology. The best friends are those that take the time to listen to you and offer you advice or sympathy. The best relationships are those in which each person makes a conscious effort to spend as much time with the other as possible.

Aristotle said, "We are what we repeatedly do." Even spending a small amount of time, everyday, doing something of value, will better you and in turn, make you happier. We can do so much with our lives, or so little. It all depends on what you decide.

What you do with your time is all you have. Go out and do things. Experience life. You only live once, and your time is everything. Fill your time with inspiring people, hard work, interesting books, walks out in nature, good music and whatever else makes you happy. Don't waste the precious time you have.



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