New Year's Eve and the passing of time

To celebrate the New Year is to celebrate time.  We count down to a midnight -- a moment in time.  We turn another year forward on the calendar and, if only on this one night each year, we all confront the the passing of time.

We tell ourselves that time is fleeting.  We wonder where it went.  Yet, if we are being completely honest with ourselves, we also know that there is enough time.  If we make good decisions and live well, then the day is long enough to do with it what we want.  If we show up each day and do our best, then the year is long enough to make tremendous progress in our lives.  If we take care of ourselves, eat wisely, and exercise, then life is long enough to allow us to live all of our dreams.  It is!

Yes, we do have enough time!  But only if we respect that each moment, that each day is precious.  There is time to have lots of fun (but not too much fun).  There is time to work really hard (but not too hard).  There is time to learn new skills (while still staying balanced).  There is time to diet (and time to feast).  There is time to exercise (and time to lay on the beach).  There is time to be on stage (and to watch a performance).  There is time to travel (and to stay at home reading books).  There is time to be a daddy (and to be a husband, lover, friend, son, son-in-law, and citizen).  There is time for intellectualism (and time for silliness).  There is time to be rich (if we don't spend too much time shopping).  There is time to be drunk (if we can tolerate the hang-over).  There is time for everything we want to do today, this week, this month, this year, and in this one lifetime.  Oh, and too much time could never be spent in love.

In 2012 and beyond, my deepest wish to all of you is that you seize each moment...that you recognize both the preciousness and, paradoxically, the abundance of time.  Of course our time on Earth is limited.  But if we make the most of it, there is also enough of it.  Happy New Year!

Comments

[L]

Happy New Year to you, too. I'd just add that people think entering a new year will suddenly change something. The truth is for most people if the past year sucked the new one will too. Glad you teach and inspire people that it doesn't have to be the case. All the best to you, your family and your creative projects :)