Key words and phrases:
cliché: a phrase or opinion that is overused so it may lack impact
reflect on: review, analyze
perception: how something is viewed
crave: have a strong desire for
subjective: based on personal feeling as opposed to fact
dwell on: to remain focused on a particular subject
savor: to fully enjoy the taste or flavor of a food or drink or a moment in time
reflex response: a reaction to something that comes without thought
suffice: be enough
come up with: to create an idea or solution etc.
get in the habit of: to make an effort to do something as part of a routine or natural response
Confucius: an ancient Chinese philosopher
Hello friends.
December is here! Time flies is a cliché that somehow seems truer than ever as another year comes to a close. This year certainly has had its share of challenges, but most people seem to feel that it was better than the two previous years. And, with only a few weeks left in 2022, it will soon be time to reflect on the year.
Time really does seem to move faster with each passing year. Why is this? There are too many theories to mention, so let’s just agree that the perception of time does in fact speed up as we get older. What can we do to slow the brain time down?
Here’s a thought. A year consists of months, days, hours, minutes and seconds. This is a constant, yet time is something that we all crave to have more of. Well, we know that we cannot get back time, so what can we do? You could say, “don’t waste time,” but wasted time is subjective, so let’s not dwell on that. Instead, let’s look at something that is possible…savor the moments that we have.
At the start of each class, I ask participants to tell me something good about their week. This is a way to begin with positive energy. The reflex response is often, “Nothing good happened.” But, when reminded that it doesn’t have to be a big event, a simple thing like a morning cup of coffee will suffice, they often come up with an idea to share.
How does this relate to time? It is true that time passes quickly, but we must remember that every minute of each day consists of moments. Moments are the events that make up a day; a cup of coffee, a text from a friend, a kindness from a stranger, a colleague. They happen to us all the time and we need to get in the habit of seeing those moments when they occur and take a few seconds to acknowledge them. This is one way to bring about happiness by raising awareness of good things and recognizing a special moment when it happens can actually slow the brain down.
Let me finish with a great quote from Confucius- “Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it.” I encourage you, and remind myself, to take time during this busy season to stay in the moment and see all the good things that happen.
Wishing you health and happiness, always.
Mark Tofflemire
Tailor Made Inc.
mark-tailormade@gol.com or toffy@gol.com
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