Nothing But Time

I used to have NBT2G as my personalized license plate. It stood for “Nothing But Time to Give” — a reaction to a time in my life when I felt surrounded by people who only wanted me around for what I could buy them. It was a cry of defiance: “Don’t ask me for anything but my time from here on out!” But as I reflected on that motto over the next year, I realized my time was more valuable than anything else I had to offer. I could always earn more money to replace what was lost, but I could never get back the time wasted on people who were no more than users.

Time is a great equalizer; everyone has the same 24 hours a day. You can’t buy, beg, borrow or steal more hours for your day. That’s one reason many bartering systems treat all services equally, based solely on the time involved. So an hour from a master carpenter trades the same as an hour of babysitting. It’s a recognition that your time is just as valuable to you as my time is to me. That means we all have an obligation to respect each other’s time.

Unfortunately, many parts of our society do not respect the time of  individuals equally. If I’m late for a doctor’s appointment, I may be charged for the missed visit, but if I’m kept waiting hours past my appointment time, well that’s just my bad luck. Of course, we may not be able to change that system, but we can change how we interact with friends, family, even strangers.

To respect others’ time, I can resolve to be prompt and prepared for events I commit to. I can let my loved ones know how much I appreciate the time they spend with me. And I can recognize that quality time is the most valuable gift I can give to anyone. What if I knew I only had one day, or one week, left with my loved ones? How would I spend that time differently? 

I also need to respect my own time. If there are people or institutions that consistently waste my time, I can look at possible changes. If I’m stuck with repeated waits at a particular establishment, then maybe I can find a way to use that time productively. I can take a book to read, or a journal to write in, or some portable craft project to work on.

Join me in re-examining the value of time. Take a look at what things you consider most important in your life. Then look at how you spend your time. Are your scheduling decisions consistent with your priorities? If not, don’t worry — it’s not too late to change.

We still have time.