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Theophrastus once said, “Time is the most valuable thing a man can spend.”

The passage of time is not as it seems. The idea that you have more time the younger you are is ingrained in our minds. True, but only to a certain point. The reverse is also true. You get closer to running out of time as you age.

Lost In Thought

For the past few weeks, I’ve been joking and talking about everything with a coworker. Despite being a wonderful gentleman who pays you his full attention, he gets lost in his own thoughts. I’ve recently noticed that every time we’re working as a team, he will zone out. And this only happens when he gets the chance to unfocus. 

For instance, when we’re working on unloading a truck, he’ll give his undivided attention. But once it’s time to fill up the shelves, he’ll be lost in his thoughts. That is all due to the fact that one leaves you with more time to think than the other does.

Let’s refer to him as Carey so as to respect his privacy. 

“Carey, are you with me?” I asked.

Carey: ”Huh! Oh yeah! He’ll answer and then ask me to repeat myself.

Me: “Eh, okaaay!”” Are you okay?

He’ll always give me a short, quick answer to brush it off, then keep going. You can tell from his answer and expression that he won’t mind sharing his concerns if you’re willing to hear them.

Well, I did exactly that.

While joking around one day, I asked him why he zones out so much. I don’t remember the exact details of our conversation, but he told me that there’s so much going on in his life that he doesn’t know where to start.

I asked what he meant. Is there some way I can help?

I think that’s the moment he’s been looking for. He started to get it all off his chest.

• He tells me he’s 28 years old and feels like he has not accomplished much when compared to peers his age. He pulled out his phone and started showing me posts from friends.
• What made it even worse is that, ever since he moved into his own place eight years ago, he makes about two to three trips a year to visit his parents. A three-hour trip. Something he’s not proud of.
• He’s working a job he doesn’t like. He would like to study art. He just can’t find the time to do it all. 

I stopped for a few minutes and told him to let me break it down for him. What I would have done in his situation.

Take charge right now.

Age has nothing to do with it.

Nowadays, no one holds themselves to realistic standards. People frequently evaluate themselves against their social network.

People had lives before social media. In the real world, as opposed to the virtual one, we were more linked. Now, we’re flooded with content on social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter feeds.

One needs to train their mindset to understand that what is portrayed as reality is not what truly exists. For instance, you only ever witness their best moments, never their hardships.

When you start comparing yourself to others, your self-confidence begins to decline. We are social creatures, and comparison has been common throughout the history of mankind.

So, if you’re basing it on age, then we are all dead in the water. We all ran out of time even before starting. If you think you can do better, then do better. You don’t need anyone’s validation.

When I was drowning in debt two years ago, there was a point where I felt like I was drowning. I realized nobody was going to send me a life ring unless I came up with a plan. I managed to keep my head up and started swimming toward my goal. 

For the record, I’m still swimming. Now I can see the shore (being debt-free).

Make a list of the things you want to complete in your notebook, ranking them from most important to least important. Set aside a reasonable amount of time to learn the craft. The best feeling about doing so is when you look back at your notebook and see the progress. You have a sense of ownership over it.

Therefore, slow down and take one step at a time.

Make time for your parents more frequently.

Speaking of social media, here is a link that they have destroyed: family ties. I advised that if you miss your parents so badly that they are constantly on your mind, then schedule some time for them.

When my mother-in-law passed away two years ago, I recall that my wife’s life wasn’t the same. The recurring phone calls stopped. The kids’ frequent travel to Florida was no longer a thing. The random texts I used to get about political events and telling me about how things used to be are now something of the past.

Generally speaking, one thing we fail to realize is that the amount of time spent with our parents will drastically decrease the moment we stop living with them. It gets even worse if we’re too far away.

Explore other opportunities.

You don’t have to be forced to stay in a job where you don’t feel valued. There are tons of opportunities out there. If you’re willing to move or travel, the opportunity might be waiting for you somewhere else.

Become a part of a group of like-minded individuals. For instance, when I first started taking pictures, I would check Meetup to see where other photographers would be hanging out. CreativeLive was the place I learned the ins and outs of photography. It was free back then, but now they’re charging $13 a month.

The same applies to any professions or interests you may have in hobbies. You can join groups on Facebook or LinkedIn. In my opinion, it’s now easier.

A day consists of twenty-four hours. If you work for eight hours, then sleep for eight more. You can find sixty minutes a day in the remaining eight hours to do research, learn a new skill, or submit applications for new jobs.

If you genuinely want something, you’ll find time in your schedule to make it happen. There is always a way, even if some more sacrifices are necessary.

Conclusion

Do you really think time is running out because there’s so much you want to achieve? It all depends on how we look at “time.” I believe that by slowing down, you can move more purposefully. You will be able to accomplish the majority of your goals, if not all of them.

Remember that time has no expiration date, but we do.

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