My column that appeared in this space a couple of weeks was, at least in my opinion, kind of deep. In it, I talked about being in or close to the golden years – the late fall or early winter of life as I called it – and how quickly time passes.
I mentioned being an overthinker and an overanalyzer who is quite stressed these days, but noting that I know God is in control every step of the way.
Well, this week …
Time is something that certainly should be enjoyed.
Recently, Nancy and I watched a somewhat entertaining movie titled “About Time.” It’s been around for quite a while – 2003, I think. It’s about the men in a family having a secret shared between them: they can travel back in time – with certain restrictions – for some “do-overs.”
One of the restrictions is they cannot change history, but they can improve their own lives.
The main character in the movie uses the secret and travels back in time for love. Thank goodness I didn’t ever need to do that.
This young man meets the girl of his dreams and by going back in time using the practice makes perfect concept, the two fall in love, get married and have a family. And they live happily ever after, even though this guy finds that his special ability can’t shield him and those he loves from the problems of ordinary life.
There’s just certain things that can’t be fixed, and as his unusual life progresses, the main character finds out his unique gift can’t save him from the sorrows and ups and downs that affect all families, everywhere. There are great limits to what time travel can achieve, and it can be dangerous, too.
But the key line in the movie – at least the key line in my opinion – comes at the end when the main character is talking to his father around the time of the dad’s death. They talk about this special gift of time they possess.
It’s revealed from father to son that one of the dad’s secrets – and practices – about the gift is each day should be lived twice … first to live it as it happened and then to go back and live it again as he would if he had picked that day to go back in time and relive it as a specially picked day.
The dad said he did that. …
What a concept. Think about it. A second chance to make the most out of every day.
It really made me think.
Now, of course, we all have our special days in life, and some of them are no-brainers. There are the graduations, the wedding day, the days the children are born, the days the grandchildren are born.
Then there are some other special days … lifetime highlights that center on achievements or special events.
They’re the memories that make our life special – and unique. And we all should have some of them tucked away to savor.
But, wow … to be able to go back and live each day a second time to make sure you get the best out of it and enjoy it to its fullest – taking nothing for granted – would be quite the gift.
This is not some Bill Murray “Groundhog Day” experience. It’s more like Thornton Wilder’s classic play “Our Town” in which the main character gets the opportunity to go back and relive one day – and when she does realizes people really don’t really live life while they live it.
I’ve written about that play
– my all-time favorite play – before, and the last couple of lines in it still get me every time as a deceased young woman visits with her deceased mother-in-law as living people, including her husband, attend the younger’s funeral.
“Mother Gibbs, they don’t understand, do they.”
“No dear, they don’t understand.” If you’re an overthinker and an overanalyzer like I am, those words, and the movie I recently watched, have to grab you and, well, make you think.
Just think … living each day as if it were a day worth remembering.
That’s worth repeating: Living each day as if it were a day worth remembering. …
What would that entail? Kindness? Love? Respect? Honor? Gratitude? Honesty? Selflessness? Laughter?
Oh, if we all could take that approach and live life to its fullest today, tomorrow, always. What a better place this would be.
Putting others first. Turning the other cheek. Celebrating life for all it’s meant to be. Knowing there’s so much more than just the bottom line.
And, knowing each day is worth living – and that it’s a special day that should not be wasted.
What a gift.
You know, I’m gifted every day by simply getting to come home at the end of the day to Nancy. Whether I’ve had a good day or a not-so-good day, she makes it better – simply by being here for me.
Lately, I’ve really tried not to take that for granted and have really tried to appreciate all she is and who she is.
Just doing that makes life better … remembering some of the good things, the great things, that I have no matter what else is going on.
Some days, it’s how I survive. And Nancy has helped me survive for more than 40 years.
Truly, she makes every day special, and I want and need to remember that more often.
And, whether it’s her or something else, I need to stop and take the time to look for that good in every day … to take a step back and look from the outside in at what I have and who I have it with.
I don’t get a second chance to do that, so I need to live life and catch all those wonderful things the first time – the only time – they happen.
Living life as it happens. Enjoying all the good that’s in it.
Maybe that’s the secret to happiness.
Who needs time travel?
As always, thanks for reading.
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