The marking of time. We each inevitably and unconsciously do it throughout of Life, my friend.

In our early years we most likely marked time by early accomplishments, birthdays, Christmases, school friendships and warm summer vacation and cold winter snow days.

​

As we found ourselves in our high school days and early adulthood, we most likely marked our time by developing relationships and dating, sporting/fine art endeavors, and dreams of post-high school adventures.

​

In our college days and early employment, we may have marked time by classes/credits completed, promotions, blossoming adult responsibilities, advanced sexuality and deepening relationships and friendships.

​

In adulthood, we unconsciously began marking time by weddings attended (possibly our own), birth of children, unfortunately for some - the death of parents, and increased community, work and family responsibilities.

​

And some time after that we find ourselves following our children through their lives; the opposite of what we have known and have done for a number of years. We start marking time through the eyes of our children. We find that we unconsciously mark time by spending more time reminiscing on what we have already experienced, attending less weddings and attending more funerals.

​

In our later adulthood (over 40), we socially mark our time by graduations, early glimpses of "retirement", the wedding and "moving on" of our children. We may even find that our title of "parent" has been superceded by the title of "grandparent." We receive our first contact from AARP and focus more on what we may have saved to see how comfortable we may be in those "twilight years."

​

I will stop there, my friend, at the risk of potentially making you experience feelings of dread and depression (smile). I share this with you today because I have witnessed two scenarios that occur in mid-life and I will let you decide where you find yourself on that continuum of "marking time."

​

The first scenario is the of marking time through the natural aging process, including the loss of social privileges and mental/physical prowess, and accepting - consciously or unconsciously - it all with a sense of resignation. You may know of those around you that have accepted this scenario... and for some reason, you've noticed how quickly they have aged - mentally, socially and physically.

​

The second scenario is the marking of time through the natural aging process, but the person focuses more on the richness of Life adventures experienced and the greater deepening of relationships and more profound understanding of oneself and his/her place in this Life. And their very spirit seems to almost arrest their aging process - mentally and emotionally.

​

I have told my children again and again, "Life can never be lived in a neutral fashion. No one will get to their twilight years and say to themselves and others, 'Yes, I had a pretty ordinary life.' So you need to intentionally choose to live a GRAND life or a BLAND life - the choice is solely yours." There will be either feelings of satisfaction or regret in those twilight years, as we were never designed to experience this Life apathetically.

​

My friend, I encourage you to take a moment to examine how you "mark time" in your life - how you have marked time and how you are doing it presently. And if you aren't happy with the manner in which you are "marking time" in your Life journey, change it today. As the old adage states, "Growing old is mandatory; acting old is optional." So mark your time, moving forward, in the most unique manner that your very unique spirit can muster. You owe it to yourself and to this Life.

​

By the way, if you haven't figured out it yet, years ago I have intentionally chosen to mark time by focusing on the richness of Life adventures experienced and the greater deepening of my relationships and a more profound understanding of myself and my place in this Life. And that has made all the difference in my personal journey.

James Taylor, in his song "Secret O' Life," eloquently sums up what I have proposed above. I share that video with you and have provided you with the lyrics to this song. It is so true, "The secret of love is in opening up your heart; It's okay to feel afraid but don't let that stand in your way; Because anyone knows that love is the only road and since we're only here for a while might as well show some style..."

------------------

The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time

Any fool can do it

There ain't nothing to it

Nobody knows how we got to the top of the hill

But since we're on our way down

We might as well enjoy the ride

The secret of love is in opening up your heart

It's okay to feel afraid

But don't let that stand in your way

Because anyone knows that love is the only road

And since we're only here for a while

Might as well show some style

Give us a smile

Isn't it a lovely ride?

Sliding down, gliding down

Try not to try too hard

It's just a lovely ride

Now the thing about time is that time isn't really real

It's just your point of view

How does it feel for you?

Einstein said he could never understand it all

Planets a-spinning through space

The smile upon your face

Welcome to the human race

Some kind of lovely ride

I'll be sliding down

I'll be gliding down

Try not to try too hard

It's just a lovely ride

Isn't it a lovely ride?

See me sliding down

Gliding down

Try not to try too hard

It's just a lovely ride

The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time.