After dealing with a bit of stomach flu the last few days, I am feeling a little better so I figured I'd get some thoughts out as to this week's quote. I got a little help from a few of my students too while I was home sick - so thank you Meranda, Mitchell, and Amber.
There are plenty of times that I think we are all a clock watcher. As a teacher, there are plenty of times I am watching the clock to start a period, to end a period and many times, to end the school day. I know students are the same way too. This quote from Sam mentions for us to do like the clock does - to keep going. Whether this is during a class period, a work project that has to get done, studying, grading papers, helping a family member out, reading a book, watching t.v., working out, etc. There are plenty of times during every day where we have to tell ourselves to keep going. When things are fun and easy, we don't have to really focus on the "keep going" part. It's when things are difficult or not enjoyable is where we have to remind ourselves to "keep going".
My students that helped me with this thought noticed a couple of things. There is such little time in life that we need to spend our time doing things that matter most to us and that are important. I have really seen that recently as I've gotten older along with hearing from graduates as they get older too. Doing things that matter and that are important, not worrying about the time it takes – just keep going, the time will go by anyway – finish it to the end.
When I was home sick yesterday from school - I had a few minutes to sit in our family room to rest a little bit. As I did this, I noticed our two clocks ticking. One is in the kitchen and the other is in our family room. It got me thinking about how the clock and really time, just keeps going. It doesn't wait. It doesn't stop. It just keeps going. Looking around at our family pictures around our house - I started tearing up as to how much time has actually gone by with me and my family. (tearing up again as I write this). As I recently celebrated my 48th birthday - this concept has really hit home.
This is another in the many reasons, the long list of reasons why in life, we really have to ask ourselves - what is my life all about? What does it mean for me to be here? Am I spending the time I have doing what I really want to do, what I really need to do? The more we realize that we need to continue to learn and grow, to continue chasing after the dreams that are inside of us, going after the passions that get us fired up - that my friends, is time well spent. As I have told my students over and over through the years, the sooner they realize this the better off their lives will be. Funny thing is - this message is for me and others too. It doesn't matter that I'm 48. What matters is that I start now, today, in going after those things in my life.
Any other thoughts that you are thinking about that help you out? You know, it might help others out too. Let me know what your thoughts and ideas are. Quick! What time is it? I just looked at the clock of course - my thought is to keep going on what I have to do and not get distracted. What did you think about?