Time [1]why you punish me? Like a wave bashing into the shore
You wash away my dreams.
Time why you walk away?
Like a friend with somewhere to go
You left me crying.
Can you teach me ’bout tomorrow?
And all the pain and sorrow running free.
‘Cause tomorrow’s just another day
And I don’t believe in time.
Time: The common denominator we are all forced to confront. The universal foe we pick up our swords and battle against, day in and day out.
Time is simultaneously perpetual and immutable, and, as mere humans we do not have the power to tame it, control it, or bend it to our wills. We are all at the mercy of time, and coping mechanisms are the only counteragents at our disposal. Food, exercise, faith, family, meditation—all contain distinct properties that pacify time’s often grating effects. Humans have devised numerous remedies to induce calm and promote harmony and reason in the midst of chaos. Yoga is one notable innovation. Lavender[2] is another. Lavender is commonly acknowledged to contain curative, anti-inflammatory properties, and scientists suggest it can play a positive role in treating various maladies such as anxiety, insomnia, and depression. Research even posits lavender can positively influence sleep cycles, as it slows the heart rate and relaxes muscles so deeper, more restful sleep is possible. Lavender does not eliminate the stresses brought on by time, but it does provide an avenue for alleviated tension and potential release and thus brings us one step closer to cultivating a slower, more appreciative outlook.
While no one is free from time’s constraints, some learn to be liberated by them. There is something wonderful in the slow, methodical ticking of a clock, something reassuring in a steady countdown that, inch by inch, approaches some finite date or exciting future opportunity. The most wonderful miracles ripen in a slow cooker of sorts, bubbling and simmering as the hours and minutes lazily count down, the final product only coming to fruition because—not in spite— of time’s methodical labor of love.
While speed definitely has its advantages, there is something to be said for the acute care and profound authenticity curated as the result of an intentional, careful process that transpires over a significant span of time. Our society is so inundated with instant accessibility and an urgent sense of immediacy that we lose something in the process of simply living in the moment, day in and day out. With time, beauty lies in the journey just as much as it does in the outcome, and, perhaps, the journey makes the outcome all the sweeter.
Some of my proudest, most successful moments are direct products of diligent persistence, hopeful anticipation, and a profound understanding of what could be made possible with time. The writing of my senior thesis, my acceptance to the college of my dreams, the acquisition of my Madeline dollhouse[3]: These accomplishments did not come to fruition overnight. Rather, they are the products of a carefully cultivated series of efforts and intentional decisions to embrace the emboldening opportunities that were presented as the result of trials and tribulations in the midst of long journeys.
Countdowns inspire and create tantalizing pleasure, and I habitually strive to slow down and enjoy the thrill of anticipation that comes with time. I have always been a sucker for a good, old-fashioned countdown. In fact, if approached with the proper mindset, waiting can almost be as enjoyable as the ultimate end result. Here are a few instances in which I have reveled in the powerful effects of time:
- Childhood Treasure Box: My mom, ever the astute accountant, encouraged me to save from an early age. Save half, spend half was her go-to motto. While she never directly enforced this system, I adored—and continue to adore—my mom and quickly picked up what she was putting down. Growing up, mom had a “treasure box” of rewards, and we could “cash in” for items once we had accumulated enough currency (i.e. completed enough chores) to purchase whatever caught our attention. Mom shrewdly populated the treasure box with toys many parents may be inclined to give their children anyway, and my brother and I quickly learned we needed to work hard to achieve our goals and desires. I methodically saved for months and months to finally attain my then wildest dream of earning my Madeline dollhouse. The patience and work ethic I garnered as a result of that experience continues to stick with me and pay dividends to this day. There is something inherently more rewarding about attaining a goal or reaching a destination after you have poured yourself into the outcome and made a concerted effort throughout the entire acquisition process, and I still savor the hopeful thrill of expectation.
- Advent Calendars: The same mother that concocted the treasure box incentivization system also—perhaps unsurprisingly—orchestrated an elaborate way to celebrate the countdown to December 25th that comes with the advent[4] of each Christmas season. Growing up, she spray painted mini drawers one might find at the hardware store, numbered each drawer 1-24, and filled the container with a potpourri of petite delights. Each day my brother and I would wait in eager anticipation to get home from school so that we could open our tiny numbered draw and unearth the small joy that awaited us. Mom never filled our Advent calendars with anything too outrageous—chocolates, Chap Stick, and tiny trinkets were her go-tos—but those repurposed toolboxes generated an unprecedented thrill and eager excitement that buoyed my spirits throughout the Christmas season. While the aforementioned Advent calendars have since been retired, mom continues to honor the season with different variations of her now long-standing tradition. We celebrated this most recent Christmas season in style with a pampering potpourri of goodies courtesy of L’Occitane. Each day I would eagerly wait until the moment when I could come home from work, open the numbered cardboard door, and reveal that day’s moisturizing mystery. The sensation brings me back to my childhood and serves as a mini taste of Christmas morning for twenty-four straight days. What could be better than that?
- Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups: Who doesn’t love a little chocolate to get them through the daily grind? Nothing quite parallels the tickling of taste buds and sweet release that comes with biting into a crisp, salty chunk of dark chocolatey goodness: I look forward to this mini indulgence all day! Trader Joe’s dark chocolate peanut butter cups pack a punch and make the countdown to “closing time” even sweeter. I may be biased, but I dare say they put Reese’s to shame. Well done, Trader Joe’s. Well done.
- Ravinia Summer Concert Schedule Release: Ravinia Festival is a staple of Puszka family Chicago summers. Nothing beats summer nights under the stars with live music, an indulgent picnic, and conversation with the best of friends. Our practice of eating and drinking on the lawn with our family friends, the Vallaranos, isn’t so much an event as it is a highly anticipated ritual. Given the prominent role Ravinia plays in shaping our summer calendars, we have organically developed a tradition to count down the days until the summer concert lineup is released. Each March our family text chain goes wild the moment the schedule goes live. And, once the countdown until release date ends the official countdown until concert season begins, providing just the “oomph!” needed to survive the dwindling days of winter before we can luxuriate on the lawn—toes in the grass, wine glass in hand. Which brings me to…
- The End of Winter: It’s official: Spring has sprung! I am delighted when I finally begin to hear birds chirping in the morning and come home to enjoy prolonged sunshine in the evening hours. I derive immense satisfaction from diligently monitoring the rising temperatures and diminishing snow banks. Most recently I have been measuring winter’s conclusion by analyzing the status of the pond outside our window. Earlier this week I noticed the solid ice had suddenly transformed, and I was ecstatic to witness moving water for the first time in months. Almost. There. We are truly in “the final countdownnnn!”
- Girls’ Disney Trip: Perhaps no countdown is more thrilling than the countdown leading up to vacation. Any vacation—big or small—evokes keen expectation and prompts a series of indulgent daydreams about hiking in the mountains, relaxing on the beach, or exploring a new city for the first time. This spring, mom and I are headed to Orlando for a Disney girl’s trip, our second vacation as a mother-daughter duo. Words cannot capture our hopeful excitement. Each day we text one another with Disney-related gifs and messages, constantly calculating the days until we are united in Florida. While Disney is commonly referred to as the “most magical place on Earth,” there is an equally magical thrill that comes with anticipating the moment you first spot Cinderella’s Castle and experience the palpable excitement of strolling down Main Street, U.S.A. Disney fully acknowledges this phenomenon and embellishes upon this eager enthusiasm, and we have received a series of emails containing a live countdown until our vacation dreams become reality. Too exciting. ONE MORE DAY!
Time. It can certainly be a double-edged sword, and many individuals fall susceptible to its not-so-desirable effects. Jack Johnson identifies this complex dynamic, and he ponders past decisions he would have made differently if only he could retroactively reverse the effects of time. Indeed, in his song, “If I Had Eyes,” he muses,
Lot of people spend their time just floating
We were victims together but lonely
You got hungry eyes that just can’t look forward
Can’t give them enough but we just can’t start over
Building with bent nails we’re
Falling but holding, I don’t wanna take up anymore of your time
Time, time, time.
Sometimes time doesn’t heal.
No not at all.
Just stand still
While we fall…
Human are indeed susceptible to becoming victims of time, so broken and scarred by its irreversible effects that we perpetually float through its vast eternity without clear direction or purpose. Time becomes something we are hyper conscious of and apologetic for, leaving us only to bemoan its formidable effects.
Time, time, time.
Yet, this doesn’t have to be the case. Perhaps time doesn’t heal so much as it empowers. With time, things become clearer, steadier, and more possible. With time we can start with nothing, build that nothing into something small (if nearly unrecognizable), and, slowly but surely gain traction until our nothing becomes something very notable indeed. Anticipation sparks a thrill of hope, something beautiful and liberating that only comes after the slow, deliberate patience fostered by an extended period of waiting.
The best things in life aren’t free; rather they come with the thrill of anticipation and the slow, deliberate appreciation of time.
[1] Or as Hootie (aka Darius) would say, “Tiiimmmeeeeeeeee.”
[2] Technically nature concocted lavender, but humans devised a way to harness its surprising powers.
[3] See item #1, Childhood Treasure Box. Childhood Katie would do anything for a Madeline doll or dollhouse. As an eight-year old she was even persuaded to scale Harney Peak, the highest natural point in South Dakota, without the aid of her father’s shoulders. Incentivization is a powerful motivator.
[4] See what I did there?
Comments are closed.