Time, Precious Time
First exposure
When I was a young boy of twelve, my father was diagnosed with leukemia. The doctors gave him six months. It was a feeling like being slugged in the head and thrown to the floor like a rag doll. I couldn't imagine how he felt. Six months. So we made every minute count.
In order to pound into my little head the
value of time he took me to see one of his all time favorite movies, "Gone With the Wind". An epic American movie about the Civil War. The primary reason he wanted me to see it was revealed in the opening scene. There it was. Planted in the front lawn of the huge Tara plantation was a marble slab. On that slab was etched the warning: Waste not time, for time is the stuff life is made of.
Seven months passed and he was gone. I thought I was going to die. I forgot all about the marble slab and the warning. Growing up was like hauling around an anchor chain. But I made it.
The Doctor's Office
A few years back I was waiting to see my doctor. And I waited and waited. By now I had waited forty minutes and was starting to fume.The marble slab with the powerful inscription came storming back into my consciousness. I jumped up,walked over to the receptionist and said, You can tell Dr Happysocks he has no right to steal forty minutes of my life, we are done. I walked out.
He called the next day to make nice. Now I wait five minutes.
The thing to remember here is that so many people don't realize they are stealing pieces of your life with sloppy service. Don't tolerate it. You can be nice. But you don't have to tolerate it.
How many minutes left?
A wise man showed me a trick he used when he found himself wasting time. He asked me how long I was going to live. Naturally I told him 120 years. Icy stare. He said let's take 85. Subtract current age-45. That leaves 40 years x365 days x1440 min/day = 21,024,000 minutes to blastoff.
Now if you update this monthly it might just set a fire under your britches. Just a thought.
I hope this helps in some small way.
Blessings to all of us,
Dick
Recent Comments
48
So much to do, so little time. I'm going to make better use of my minutes. Thanks for posting this Dick.
Hi Dick, sorry to read about your dad, I have made it into an art using my waiting time of some value. When I have to wait, I make positive affirmations. Before the cash register, I affirm "I am lucky, I get a discount" At the dentist I affirm "my teeth are alright", at the doctor I affirm "whatever happens, he knows the cure". Time wisely spent:)
That's no surprise to me Loes. I can't imagine you wasting anything, let alone time. I bet you do affirmations in the shower.....yup, I thought so! Thanks for the thought on my dad.
:) I sure do use that time too, but mostly to be thankful and expresse gratitude for the comfort of having such luxury:)
Thank you for sharing these thoughts and memories. They are precious to you and I feel honored to have read them. I will keep this in the back of my mind the next time I am faced with stolen time.
Thanks for sharing this snippet, both moving and poignant, of your life as a young boy. Nothing is harder on a child that losing a parent. How wonderful that your father taught you how precious your time is. So well written, Dick. Warmly, Heather
Hi Heather,
You always have the nicest things to say. You are a good friend to me and to a lot of folks. Just keep being you, never change. Now if you want to clone you that would be perfectly fine. Be well and safe....Dick
In the time between commenting on your great post and answering you right now, I have found out that I have a blood pressure reading of 170/92, have been sent for a slew of blood tests, and will go for an echocardiogram on Tuesday. Your post is even more meaningful today. This week started out with my friend ending up in ER and is ending with me having to contemplate some major life changes so my soul can live in peace. Over and out my friend. Heather
You just hit me between the eyes with that one. Let's just figure that it was your friend's accident and the incident with the bully dad. It is more than likely your head that is behind this. Let's plan on that and let the doctors figure it out. It's easier.
Heather I am sure you know that that is not a terribly horrible BP, but obviously you want it down. Try not to obsess and go read some of the beautiful things you have produced.
Blessings and prayers on the way,
Dick
I'm sure it's just been the craziness of late. I don't know about the USA, but in Canada, this BP reading is considered high risk and dangerous, but then again, I don't know much about this. My doctor almost fell off her chair because I'm not a big person and pretty healthy. (I thought) I went to see her because my gut told me something was up. I haven't been to a doctor in years as they typically give me the heebee jeebies. Glad I went though. We'll see..,many thanks for the support, blessings, and prayers, Dick.
Right here if you need to talk.That BP is high enough to warrant a checkup. But it's not something to go bananas about. Example: Last physical, mine was 118/78. This doctor wanted me to take medication! I shook my head and left. Let me know what happens. Just try not to fret.....Dick
...that's why they give me the heebie jeebies...I'll keep you posted...and thanks again. :-)
I love it! The older I get, the more outspoken I become. But this. WOW! You really give it a perspective like no other. Great read Dick. Made me want to hear more too. It also reminds me of another movie that I love - "Fried Green Tomatoes" - "because I'm older and have more insurance" lol.
Blessings,
Debby
Hi Debby. Thank you so much. You know it's comments like that make all of us want to write better. Very motivating. Now where did I put that keyboard? Thanks again....Dick
PS: That was a cool movie.
Oh, my goodness, Dick!
Splendid share and awesome perspective! Gotta' love it 21,024,000 minutes to blastoff. I will remember this...it will be that fire that will help to keep me boiling up more goodness from the melting pot of life.
You are a good apple, sir!
Linda
Thank you so much Linda. You know you are a real pip and I have a feeling you'll boil up just plenty......My best, Dick
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Good stuff, thanks.
Thanks Robert. I appreciate your reading.