As the years quickly spool behind me, I’ve realized of all the things I’m grateful for its time. I’m thankful for time.
Ravages of Time
Time is central to our lives. Every major milestone, birthdays, anniversaries, firsts, and finals are all marked and celebrated by the passing of time.
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 is much more than an interval of measurement. It’s a creator of memories.
Time is the most valuable commodity we have. And here’s the irony. Time can’t be bought or sold.
Time can only be savored, measured, and appreciated. You can save time by trading one consumption of your time for another. But in the end…
Time and tide wait for no man.” – Geoffrey Chaucer
Time is the most important thing we have in this world. But it’s fleeting nature makes it even more precious.
None of us really know exactly how much time we’re given here. Another irony. Here’ your gift of life. You may have one year or 100 years to complete it, but you’ll never know.
Free your time for what is truly special to you.
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 just to spend a holiday dinner with their grown children, let alone five nights a week. It’s essential to make the most of the time we do have together.
When we’re young, we believe we have all the time in the world. It’s not until we get older that we realize the preciousness of time.
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 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.
Kisses don’t have healing powers, or do they?
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 telling me was I didn’t spend enough time with her. Because I absentmindedly kissed her pain away 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.
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 important. The increasing pace and distance of our daily lives seem 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.
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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 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, but her teapot and love remain.
Is Gratitude The Secret to Happiness?
I once heard someone say that gratitude is the real secret to happiness. I believe this is true. I know I should be thankful every day, not just this day. Too often, I forget.
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 the holidays, I want you to know how grateful I am to you for continuing to read my posts and being a part of this beautiful tea journey.
And if you are a subscriber, I am thankful for the time you spend opening my emails, and for reading 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 ♡.
What a lovely post. Know you will enjoy your time!
In the city where I live there are a lot of homeless people, what they would really appreciate is when someone gives them a hot cup of tea or coffee, I have given food to people on the street but haven’t given out drinks yet, will need to get some cardboard cups with lids. I have a friend who has given out sandwiches he has made and he has flasks of tea and coffee as well.
It’s nice to be cosy at Christmas with friends and family, but there are people who won’t be doing that, so a nice cup of hot tea means so much to some people.
It’s very sad to see that and it’s a great deed you’re doing providing them with food and a hot drink. Loneliness and abandonment are some of the most painful experiences for anyone. I’ve been a caregiver in one form or another most of my life and I still find it disheartening and cruel that people end up homeless and abandoned. A small act of caring is the least we can do.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours
Thanks Jo – same to you.