Just about Time - Time & Money

Time is one of the most important and coveted resources in every human’s life. Time according to me is without doubt – the Singularly Most Important resource in our lives.

Let me see if I can explain this to myself. Time – in our own way we all talk about Time passing by, lack of time, measurement of time etc. I realized that Time is not passing us, we are passing through time. Time is there, Static, all pervasive.

To understand it further, imagine yourself sitting in a train, next to a window looking out into the countryside. It seems to each one of us looking out, that the trees, the houses, the grazing cattle, young children waving at us, and of course the platforms of the stations, are moving and passing by while we are sitting stationary in the train. The objects closest to us whiz past very fast while those a bit farther a bit more slowly. But all of them seem to be moving backwards and go away. But what is the truth? The houses, the hillocks and the trees do not move at all. They are static. We are the ones who are moving. Everything outside of us is Time, we are just travelers moving through time.

The other issue which we humans talk about all the time – actually the lack of it in one’s lives – Money. Thinking about it, brought a very funny aspect to light. This element is just a ‘Myth’ – Maya. About money people call it ‘Moh Maya’ – highly desirable myth. And while reading material written by astronomers and cosmologists I realise Time, too, is a myth. Most treat money as more important and in cases – All- important. How wrong they are. Money can’t buy time but with time you can get money.

Let us now try and merge both these Myths. Imagine being woken up one day with No money and only 24 hours to yourself. How would one pass a day like this? Think about a situation where we are exchanging everything in our lives which is measured in money terms with time. Everything you want, need, desire – can be bought with time. The more time you have, the richer you are.

I feel one would not waste time gazing in the mirror or walking slowly around. Working for 10-12 hours would get one paid with some more hours. Some of that would be used up buying food, paying for the bus fare (if you decide to take one), purchasing just essentials. Would one waste it on buying cigarettes, liquor and drugs… well some might. As one works harder, one earns more time and starts living a relaxed life. A gift or a legacy left behind adds a couple of decades more to your life. We will attempt to earn more and save more time, use it fruitfully, live whatever we have left to the fullest.

Would want to gift time to someone? Yes, it does not matter how rich or poor you are today – that is exactly how much or how little time we have for ourselves. Your upbringing, your noble thoughts for the society or the whole world would probably help you make a decision to donate time to someone. Even today when someone gives us a patient hearing and spare themselves to connect with you, we thank them by saying “Thank you for your time” while on the other hand we often hear “You don’t have time for me”. 

What would happen if someone is so rich that he or she has a million hours of time. A very rich person. For all practical purposes he would be immortal. But for what purpose would one want to remain alive without growing old. He would either donate the time or die with time in his hands.

Just a thought. We must safeguard and keep track of the time that has been gifted to us by the Universe. It is important that we share it with friends and family. We must attempt to live a life of our choosing by making considered decisions of what we do with the time that is with us. One day it is going to run out or else it is possible that poor usage of our time spent wastefully may consume us much before our time.

Time is an illusion…or is it? Time is a resource…an intangible one at that. But we cannot borrow or lend time to anyone else. When we share it, it is utilized equally from both sides. Yes, we go Dutch. And if it is shared with someone we love or cherish, it would be considered well spent.