Time

Introduction

Everybody has a different opinion about ``time.'' The points of view, the ways each person organizes the time, etc., differ, though there are always reasons for everything and we should know such reasons before criticizing any opinion. Here I write about some friends' opinions, which made me think about the importance of the time. Therefore, the text is not based on suppositions, but on experiences. No name is written down and I pay respect for all the friends and their opinions I wrote about.

The End of the World

Some time ago a friend, a foreign student in Japan, was asked ``if the world were to end this year, what would you do?'' He answered that he would like to spend some time with his family and friends, till the end of the world. He said that he had wanted that chance since long time ago. I wondered why he hasn't had that chance, though I didn't ask him. There are many possible reasons, but the result is the same: if the world end, he probably wouldn't meet his family and friends. I know he is working hard here in Japan, but I don't know if he is working also to realize his hope someday, be in the near future or later.

2.1 Good or Bad

Another friend, a foreign trainee in Japan, was always thinking on her family when she was in Japan. She spent a lot of money on frequent phone calls to her family overseas. Maybe both friends had exactly the same feeling about their families, and they knew that till the end of their activities in Japan they wouldn't have the chance to meet their dear ones. My question is ``on such a situation, was the stay in Japan good or bad for them?'' The trainee was counting the days remaining for going back to her country. Though she had fun times with the new friends in Japan, everybody knew her nostalgia. Was the stay good for her?

Six Years

I asked a friend what would he do if he had six years to spend as he wants. He answered that, if besides the time he had enough money, he would spend one year traveling and the rest practicing his favorite sport. I realized that his answer was a lot influenced by the present, since he was to travel overseas some days later and we were chatting about sports (including his) that time. There is nothing bad on spending time traveling or practicing sports, but people should think more about how they will spend time, because it means how they will live. I know most people wouldn't hear such a question, but why don't give a try? Ask yourself what will you do in the next six years, think a little about it, and maybe you will get a new target to work on.

By Themselves

In the university, some students (including me) entered to a tutor based program, were we had to read assigned books, take extra subjects, study a foreign language and so on. A lot of students quit the program; I write here about two of them. The first one decided to quit saying he can do the same without somebody telling him anything. The second one couldn't continue because his average decreased. However, both finished the undergraduate course with very good marks and very satisfied. They did just as they said. This shows that some people don't need to be told what to do with their time or how to spend it, they can do it by themselves.

Better Now

Also in the undergraduate course, a friend decided to take less hours per week in order to spend more time with her parents ``now that [she] can.'' She said that would be better than waiting till finishing the studies. I thought it was a hard decision, since she was a good student that could finish the course in the usual number of years. But she would never answer what my friend said about the question related to the end of the world.

Slave of Time and Work

A friend of mine had a job when we met in the university. I got the impression that her life was decided by that job: her time for study, her spare time, etc. She just said the job was important, but I thought she was a slave of it. I was a bit sad about it, since she was a person who could do many activities if she just decided to do them. The last time I met her I got a surprise. She had a new look, seemed relaxed and self-confident, and said she was changing many things in her life. After the surprise, I understood the chains were broken; she had taken her time in her hands.

My Questions

Every person would decide how to spend the time, and it's better to think about it than just to let the time pass. We might not have all the time we want, but we can use the time we have. Have you ever said ``I should do it that time,'' resigned? Think a little about the future. Do you want to say it again? Whatever your situation be now, do you want it to continue some years more? If you want a change, are you already working on it?

Conclusions

Generally, the decision of what to do in what time is difficult. Many of us do wrong at right times, and vice versa. But so the life is. We came without a manual for life and getting lessons by trial and error. We need time to learn, but we must take advantage of the lessons. We should decide what we want and work for it. For the time we don't have it yet, our own efforts won't make us sad. We should avoid regretting for not doing some thing at some time. We should build our present thinking on the future, our future.