Lesson Learned: Time Value

(I wrote this reflection several years ago. I smiled when I rediscovered it. I feel like the Apostle Paul when he wrote to the Philippian church about contentment: he saw it as a lesson he was still learning–and I’m still learning this one.)

I ran into the grocery to grab two items: Chinese noodles and upholstery cleaner. I didn’t find the cleaner I wanted so I grabbed the noodles I needed and headed to the check out. There was, of course, only one lane open, but I wasn’t worried, especially since there was only one person ahead of me already in the process of checking out. As I took my place in line the woman checking out apologized to me since she had more items and I, with only one, had to wait.
I looked up at her and smiled. Then I said something to the effect that it was okay to wait. Truth be told: I look forward to the moments which force me to slow down and breathe. Quiet-slow-me-down moments are a blessing not a problem.

Now, to be very honest, I have no idea where that came from. Not long ago I wouldn’t have been able to say anything like that. Life is different now. I contemplated this during lunch recently as I sat on the porch amid flowers, humming bees, and singing birds. I was overcome with a sense of the rhythm of the way life is supposed to be. I looked across the table and was thankful for the 87 year old woman I had the privilege of sharing lunch with. Lunches used to be practically swallowed whole while driving down the road to my next appointment. I neither enjoyed the food nor appreciated the beauty that flew by my window.

I understand now time is far too precious to waste fretting about where I’m to be next. It’s too fragile to stuff to the point of breaking. It’s too fleeting to miss the wonder of being present for the discovery of a child, whether they be a grandchild or the child in you.

My mind had moved on to dinner and a meeting I need to schedule. I had moved on from what I mindlessly said to the shopper ahead of me in line. She turn to me as she moved her cart away from the checkout, and thanked me for my wise advice. She told me she was headed to a meeting with other young moms and that she would be sharing what she heard in our brief encounter. I finished my errands and came home.

Driving home, I decided I needed to put these thoughts on paper. Before I did, I checked a friend’s online diary and found her quote du jour:

“There is no such thing in anyone’s life as an unimportant day.”
— Alexander Woollcott

And, there are no unimportant moments, either.