Lifestyle

Shifting Perspective of Time

The end of year holidays are a time of year when we should all be reminded to value what we have and appreciate the amazing things in our lives. I know a lot of people say that the holidays are about family or friends. The thing is, there are some people out there that don’t have family that are good to them or even reliable friends. No matter if it’s their fault or just pure circumstance, they may not have nearly as much going in their social lives as the majority. And so, the holidays still apply to them: it’s a time of year to look at what you do have and appreciate the good in life rather than focus on the bad or lack of great things.

Of course, this is much easier for me to sit here and write up than it is to carry out if I didn’t have reliable friends or family that loved me. Nonetheless, this past year has taught me so much in terms of appreciating small things in life and learning to let go of bad emotions and thoughts and embrace the moment.

Overall, I think what people forget is the passage of time. Time is an abstract concept, so it doesn’t necessarily show up in your face day in and day out. However, clocks are around to remind us of time. And so are calendars. The unfortunate thing is that calendars have made us always look forward and history makes us look backwards. But what of the things that make us look here and now?

If there’s anything that is the most detrimental to society and happiness among humans, it’s never appreciating the moment. So, perhaps we should look at our gifts that we unwrap in shipping boxes as something we want to appreciate right here and now. They remind us of the fact that we had someone who appreciated us and wanted to give us a gift. Or if the gift is to yourself, it should remind you that you love yourself enough to treat yourself. That you have a job that can get you something. Whatever it is, these should be reminders of things in the here and now and not as something you’ll look back on down the road.

We have to get out of the mentality of looking ahead too far or in the past too much. Like focusing on our evenings with people we want to be around or doing things that we’re interested in, be it hobbies or chill music or reading.

So, the next time you have a few shipping boxes strewn about your floor around the winter holidays, look at them as mementos of your friendships and family and self love rather than the actual items within.