March 6th, 2021

Take Time or Time will Take You

Remember when you would hug your grandparents without thinking you could kill them? Do you recall being able to share a smile with other people? How about when you could hang out with your favorite person without thinking about if either of you could be sick? It's crazy to see our world form a new type of ‘normal’. Although one might try to see the bright side of things we need to take time to analyze the rain. We need to take time to look at our situation and reflect on how big or small it has impacted us; physically, mentally, socially ,and emotionally. But one thing is for sure, we need to take time, because if we don't, it will take us.

What does that even mean? Time can’t take me. I have full control over my life and there is nothing that can cause otherwise. Well let's put this into perspective. If I tested you to read this whole essay, you would most likely succeed. Now if I asked you to tell me the second question I asked you without looking back, would you be able to do so? Probably not. Applying this to a bigger scale, if we do not take the time to analyze and process what is happening in our lives and how it is affecting us, we will miss the important details and opportunities we could have been a part of. Take your time.

Although it might be scary to dive into and connect with our thoughts, find time to take part in an activity that will help you grow the courage. For some people it might be laying in bed at night, staring at the ceiling and being with no one but you and your thoughts. Other people participate in art; drawing their thoughts, creating a song, writing in a journal. Whatever it may be, it is important to find that ‘one thing’ that genuinely helps you. Now I know what you're thinking “that's what the news is for” or “I don't have time to do that”, well guess what, I'm gonna give you the time. Go ahead and take a minute or two to simply think about the last six months right now.

I know you didn't do it so I’m gonna give you another chance. Seriously, take this time to give your mind a minute to process how life is different now. If you're having trouble on where to start, think about your New Year's day. Think about how you’ve grown from that day to this moment right now. Go ahead now, and seriously take this time and return to reading when you feel the moment is right for you.

Done? How did it feel? Maybe calming/meditative or eye opening? Some may feel more stressed or even confused. It’s all respectable. This is something new and so all feelings are valid. Feel like sharing with someone near? Go ahead and share. If this was more personal let me share with you my thoughts. When taking the time to sit with my thoughts I find something I do now that I didn't do before. For example I used to spend less time with my family. This makes me think about how much we’ve grown to love and appreciate each other more than ever before. This then makes me feel calm knowing that from this whole situation some good has come out of it. Not all the time though do I feel calm. Thinking about my family makes me think of the families who have loss a member which I know a lot of people have. That feeling of emptiness deserves time to be processed. This all takes time.

As said before, some people may be more creative when it comes to this process. Drawing, singing, or anything that helps you view the details and their importance is always and will always be valid- as long as it's legal of course.

I would like to end on a list of hopes. Not all people believe in hope but even if you don't I ask of this moment to read a few:

I hope that we will stay safe and healthy, I hope that we can all grow to be better together, I hope reading this has benefited you in one way or another, and I hope that you take your time because if you don't, it will take you.