NEW CASTLE —
“The key question to keep asking is, ‘Are you spending your time on the right things?’ Because time is all you have.” — Randy Pausch, “The Last Lecture”
On the clock.
Watch tonight’s NFL Draft for only a few minutes and you’re likely to hear that phrase used repeatedly.
“The Colts are on the clock.”
“The Browns are on the clock.”
“The Steelers are on the clock.”
Although we rarely think about it, so are we.
Every second of every day.
From the moment we were born.
You are dying.
So am I.
We’re on the clock.
And it’s ticking.
“You may delay, but time will not.” — Benjamin Franklin
I love this time of year.
We’re nearly at the point on the calendar where vegetation is at its most lush and green.
I live in a wooded area and I love to look out the back window and be overwhelmed with the emerald scenery. It looks as if it’s a rain forest.
If you have the opportunity, try this experiment. Snap off a small tree branch filled with leaves. Just place it on your deck or porch and monitor it for the next few days.
It’s dead from the moment you’ve plucked it from its life source, but it will take some time for the decay to be visible.
Our bodies are no different.
We sprout up from seedlings, reach our “lush” point of beauty and strength around age 27, then a gradual decline sets in.
We are wasting away. No matter how hard we try, we can’t stop the process.
Go ahead, eat your spinach, drink your purified water, do all the Pilates you can fit in. That’s all healthy and wise.
But you’re just delaying the inevitable, you know.
We’re on the clock.
And it’s ticking.
“You will never ‘find’ time for anything. If you want time, you must make it.” — Charles Bruxton
I know, I’m revealing no secrets here. Everything I’ve written thus far, you’ve already heard on dozens of occasions.
But we’re human. And we have short memories. I’m just offering another friendly reminder about your time. However you choose to use it, you still lose it.
It’s your call.
If you’re an adult, you’ve created your life thus far. Where you work, where you live and who you hang with.
You’ve chosen to use a great portion of your time on Earth toward those ends. Then again, maybe you didn’t. Maybe you chose to distract or numb yourself with foolish pursuits through the years and somehow you ended up here.
“Wow, how did that happen?” you might have asked yourself.
Some of you are thrilled with your current situation.
Others of you are miserable.
But that can all change today.
Do you really want to spend three hours in front of the TV tonight? You can if you want.
Or fool around on Facebook? Or fret over Fantasy Baseball stats? Or watch a movie you’ve already seen 34 times?
It’s up to you.
We’ve already established that we’re dying. So is that how you really want to spend your dying days?
Don’t forget, we’re on the clock.
And it’s ticking.
Today, you are the oldest you have ever been, and the youngest you will ever be again. You are perfectly positioned between experience and opportunity.
In your heart of hearts, what do you REALLY want to do today?
Reach out to a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while?
Write a note of thanks or encouragement?
Restore a relationship?
Take an afternoon off with your kids?
Quit your job and start your own business?
Get to know your Creator better?
Work on your craft?
Or just plop on the couch and watch the draft?
One of the greatest lies we’re fed is that “other people” are supposed to do great and meaningful things, while our job is to grab the remote and watch them.
Do you really believe that?
Do you really believe you don’t have the time to create a lasting impact of your own?
Better decide quick.
We’re on the clock, you know.
And it’s ticking.
Tim Kolodziej
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About Tim Kolodziej: Tim is director of new media at The News. His blog appears each Thursday.
Discussion
Tim Kolodziej: Just like the Steelers, we’re on the clock, too
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