Hiba Kathawala Week 10: Tick Tock
Tick Tock
“Redirect Notice.” Google.com, 2025, www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fpixabay.com%2Fvectors%2Fsearch%2Fclock%2F&psig=AOvVaw0kFbk8nUHuLHeFpsIhGybA&ust=1738290760843000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBcQjhxqFwoTCIib3-yznIsDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAY. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
When we think about what or who has power over us, many of us might think about world leaders, our financial situation, or even a higher power, like God. But I think one of the strongest powers that is often overlooked is time.
Time is the only true irreplaceable resource. Money can come back. Water can come back. Food, clothing, objects, can all be replaced. But once time is gone, it is gone forever.
Time controls us in an infinite number of ways.
Not having enough of it can prevent us from doing things we want to or need to do. Oftentimes, I feel like time is running faster than normal, especially with the hectic schedule of junior year. Finding time in my day to relax, read a book, or take a stroll becomes a hassle.
Time can also warp our sense of reality. Sometimes days go by feeling like seconds, and sometimes one class period can feel like a week has passed by.
Time controls our schedules and maps out our lives. During our adolescence, time does not feel like a big deal. Our lack of responsibilities gives us huge levels of freedom when deciding how to spend it. In contrast, after hitting 30 years people often feel like they need to have completed certain achievements, from owning a house, to having a stable job, to starting a family, while juggling 100 things at the same time.
So, while the thought of having an ever present clock counting down the seconds of your life may feel scary, it is important to remember that it matters less how much time you have, but more how you spend it. While in the moment, it can feel useless to take time out of your busy schedule to do silly things like hang out with friends, spend time with family, or take a walk, all of these things are just as important as spending time on school work, extracurriculars, and more.
These small pockets of time are what can help make life feel fun, and remind you that though time is a limited resource that can constrain us in many ways, it is also a valuable one that can bring loads of enjoyment and satisfaction from life.
Hi Hiba! Ironically, I'm writing this comment at 1 AM after having read your blog about the value of time (I need to sleep lol). But reading this right now, after having spent the past two days of my weekend studying and wrestling with my assignments, I truly resonate with your idea that time is fleeting in its nature and if we don't take a moment to acknowledge it, it all flys away!
ReplyDeleteConsidering the fact that everything in life is governed by what we can or cannot do in the 24 hours we have in a day, 7 days we have in a week, 52 weeks we have in a year, and the average 70 summers we get to witness in our life, it really makes me ponder on the idea of finding that perfect balance between academic pursuits and personal ventures. Sometimes it sorta feels like as high schoolers, we wear the weight of time and tend to forget that it grows heavier by the second. Truly, I find it impossible to figure out the right time for anything---I like sleeping late at night, I enjoy waking up in the afternoon, I love binging Gossip Girl for 6 hours straight knowing I have a crapload of AP Lang homework due, but, I also value spending time building new relationships, exposing myself to what the world has to offer me, emphasizing and swimming into the depths of my passions, and ultimately embracing a free-flow nature that remains unshackled by the arms of time.
Time and our use of it is valuable. Acknowledging the ephemeral essence of our existence is necessary. Using our resources to their best potential is essential. But maybe sometimes being laid-back, lazy, unproductive, yet happy is something to be appreciated. As engrossed and dedicated an individual can be into fixating a thorough "schedule or map" of their life, believing in the perfection of time-management is tom-foolery. Sometimes we'll be the most productive-self, one day we'll just take a break and tell our plans to piss-off, the following day we'll re-write our future, and the final moment will teach us that our search for the right time never existed, rather the notion of time was just a medium through which our memories remained recorded.
I can't see myself 10 years down the line or even a day ahead. So I find my solace in forgetting that I'll ever grow old. And who knows what the next chapter of our lives holds, we can plan, plan, and plan, but the only things that are left to stand, are the words of time.
Hi Hiba,
ReplyDeleteYour perspective on time is incredibly insightful and resonates deeply. Time is truly an irreplaceable resource, and its power over us is undeniable. I especially relate to how you mention time warping our sense of reality, it's just so easy to feel like there's never enough of it. While time can feel like a constraint, I like how you remind us that it is just as equally important in how you spend it on things that bring you joy. It is easy to get caught up in responsibilities, but those small moments like spending time with friends or taking a small break are what make life more fulfilling. Your reflection really puts things into perspective, thank you!
Hey Hiba, I totally agree with the fact that how we spend our time matters so much. Starting this semester, everyday I think about how high school is over half way done and soon we will be in college. I am trying to make every moment worthwhile, but it is quite hard. I feel like I get distracted so easily when I have so much work to do. On the other hand, I want to be able to enjoy my life, and the stress of all the work is not enjoyable at all. I think that somewhere there are my goals which motivate me to do my work and continue on focusing everyday.
ReplyDeleteHi Hiba! Like the saying goes, time is money. I agree with a lot of points you made about how important it is to manage your time wisely. I feel like the second semester of junior year is arguably one of the most difficult periods in all of high school, and we're all so busy that we don't realize how much time has passed already. Like how is it already February?!?! Even though sometimes I do have small pockets of free time, I feel a little guilty, like I should be doing something productive instead of relaxing or goofing off, but you make a good point; we should strive to live a balanced life of both academics and enjoyment.
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