The Time That was Lost

Time is often taken for granted, until it is too late. No matter what you are doing in your life, seconds are always wasted, seconds and minutes that you could have used for quick breaks, quick visits, or even just silence. Unlike in the Scarlet Letter, my sin isn’t adultery, it is wasting time. 

My letter that I will be wearing around campus will be the letter T. The T represents the time I have learned to waste more often than not. It is a “crime” that most people don’t consider or have a second thought over until you wish you had more of it. My letter has many different types of clocks and symbols of time, subtly revealing my sin. My letter also has a rip that is taped together, this to me represents not being able to go back in time. The rip is a reminder that you can fix mistakes but you can’t always erase them and the damage they caused. You will never be able to get that time back completely no matter how hard you try. 

The time that I spent on my phone, watching TV, or just sitting alone in my room doing nothing is gone forever and was easily wasted by life. I often look back on my pre teenage years and wish I could redo many of the choices I made with my time. I regret choosing not to go over to my grandparents house every chance I could, not knowing in the future that is all I wished to do. Time is an amazing thing but every amazing thing has its ups and downs, time is complicated. When you wish you had more time, you hate it and when you have too much time you hate it. 

I feel like I was definitely “punished” by life because of this sin, it made me realize the same events I used to take for granted, I beg for minutes of them now.  It was rare that my whole family from around the country gathered together, the family events I didn’t go to because I wanted to be somewhere else are an example of my disregard of time. 

I often feel guilty now that I am older, for not spending my time wisely. I feel guilty that I didn’t value when my grandparents drove hours to watch my sports. I wish I knew in the future I would regret it because now I am lucky if they are able to make one of them, sooner or later I have to realize they won’t come at all at some point.

Time also has taught me a lesson that will stay with me forever, cherish every moment because you will not be able to get it back. You never know how you will feel in the future, a moment that you hate now might be your last wish later. 

As I get older, I start to understand the importance of using your time wisely, not only for spending time with family, but also in everyday life. In school, time is one of your most valuable resources you can take advantage of. If you plan out your day and set goals for yourself you might have more free time to spend with friends or extracurricular activities.  When you use your time with a purpose in mind,  you can do many more things than you expect yourself to accomplish in a day.