I was writing an email to a friend and found myself knee-deep in a muddy explanation of my own regret. We were talking about books and that led to my overall frustration. There are just so many books that I haven't read. So many types and pieces of music that I've never listened to (or even heard of). There are so many interesting things to discover and know and experience in this magnificent world we live in. Sometimes I do feel regret that I haven't done a better job of managing and making wise use of my time.
Groundhog Day isn't usually at the top of anyone's list of all-time favorite movies. I'm not sure I'd list it as a favorite either except that my mind comes back to it again and again as a reminder to make good use of my time. There can't be too many people out there who haven't at least heard the synopsis of the story. Bill Murray is stranded in a time warp that keeps looping back to the same day....Groundhog Day. At first, he's confused, then aggravated at the inconvenience of having to repeat the day's events again and again. He moves through several more stages of amusement and depression, but finally resigns himself to his fate. Then, lo and behold, it hits him. He's got all the time in the world...to learn anything he wants! Instead of feeling cursed he sees the experience for what it is...a gift!
I ask myself this all the time...
If I had all the time in the world, what would I really want to do? What would I read? What would I write? What new skill would I like to acquire? Of course, it would be easy to throw up my hands in defeat and claim that things like that only happen in the movies. And it's true that the time warp thing is a lot of silliness, but the idea there...to make good use of my time...surely I can do a better job of that!
What would you do if you had all the time in the world?
And, maybe a better question, what would you really like to do with the time that you have?
