3 Reasons to be Thankful for Time

As I get older, I’ve realized of all the things I am thankful for –  its time. TIME. I am thankful for time. Do we put enough value on time? Here are three reasons why.

Time and tide wait for no man” – Geoffrey Chaucer

Time is central to our lives. Every major milestone, birthdays, anniversaries, firsts and finals are all marked and celebrated by time. And too often we take time for granted.

And as I get older, I’ve realized of all the things I am thankful for –  its time. Because time is so much more than just an interval of measurement.

You may be thinking that’s an odd thing  – to be thankful for time. Why not your loved ones or your home or anything else?

Time, when viewed as a thing, is the most important commodity we have. And here’s the irony. Time can’t be bought, sold or traded. Time can’t be saved. Time can’t be spent although the famous cliché about how did you ‘spend your time’ indicates it can be saved. It can’t.

Time can be savored. Time can be appreciated and time can be the most important thing we have in the world. But it’s fleeting and that’s what makes it so precious.

Twenty years pass and we ask ourselves, “where has the time gone?”

1. Thankful For Time Together 

I recently watched a 60 minutes interview with Tim Green. His time is nearing an end as he battles Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis‎. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. In his most poignant sentiment, Green stated,

Life can never be long enough”- Tim Green

In the interview, Tim Green said he has everything right now, despite his successful football career and now failing health, because he has time with his family every day.

The story explains that Tim Green was adopted so ‘everything’ to him means family. The Greens’ grown children all live in the same neighborhood and they eat dinner together five nights a week.

Some people are lucky enough to just spend Thanksgiving dinner with their grown children, let alone five nights a week. It’s so important to make the most of the time we do have together.

When we’re young we think we have all the time in the world. It’s not until we get older that we realize how precious time really is. 

At the end of your life, you will never regret not having passed one more test, winning one more verdict or not closing one more deal. You will regret time not spent with a husband, a child, a friend, or a parent.” – Barbara Bush

2. Thankful For Time Giving Bonds

I’d have to say my best advice is simply to spend time with your loved ones. Be stingy with time spent on meaningless things and generous with the time you give to those you love. That’s it. Simple.

When my youngest daughter was little, she always had me kissing her boo-boos. I did it because, as every mother knows, it makes it feel better. What took me a long time to understand was why.

One day my daughter asked me to kiss her boo-boo when I was pressed for time. I hurriedly obliged. She cried telling me it wasn’t any good because my kiss didn’t have any love in it.

What she was really telling me was I didn’t spend enough time with her. I had absentmindedly kissed her pain away, and so it didn’t work. I didn’t pay enough attention to her at that moment. I didn’t spend enough time with her in her moment of pain, however minor it seemed wasn’t the point. My daughter wanted my time.

Cindy Lauper’s lyrics have always reminded me of the push and pull of time when it comes to raising our children. The song is a little bittersweet with a deep feeling.

You said go slow, I fall behind, the second hand unwinds” – Cindy Lauper, Time After Time

3. A Simple Way to Make Quality Time for Each Other

Time is more important than ever. The increasing pace and distance of our daily lives seems to pull us further away from time with each other.

So how do we find the time to spend with each other? Sharing a pot of tea is a perfect way to spend time together. Tea is very social. It’s the vehicle that allows us to share and connect.

The process of brewing and sharing tea embraces the slowing of time, a momentary escape. It’s a reason to take a break, relax and slow down. To find our focus and appreciate the little things. It is as much about brewing and drinking the tea as it is about sharing the time with others.

One of the sweetest things my parents shared together was a pot of tea every night after dinner. It was their time to talk and reconnect with one another after a day apart. Pictured is the Wedgwood Ivy House teapot my mother used. She is no longer with us for Thanksgiving anymore but her teapot is.

Gratitude is The Secret to Happiness

I once heard someone say that gratitude is the true secret to happiness. I believe this is true. I know I should be thankful every day, not just this day. Too often I forget this.

This Thanksgiving, I am so very grateful to spend my time with the family I love. The extraordinary thing about family and dear friends is that our hearts and minds hold each others’ stories, the ones that bring laughter, eye rolls and sometimes tears. We are forever a part of each other.

Our family and friends wrap us with love and support every day of our lives, even when they are not with us. But no matter where we come from, we all share the same desire – time with loved ones.

As we celebrate Thanksgiving here in the states this week, I want you to know how grateful I am to you for continuing to read my posts and being a part of this wonderful tea journey.

And if you are a subscriber, I am thankful for the time you spend opening this email, and for reading it all the way through. I know you have lots to do, so I don’t take your time lightly.

I wish you and your loved ones a peaceful and joyful holiday!