Something profound happened at noon on November 18, 1883! Something so profound that it is still affecting you today. The powerful Railroad Companies took it upon themselves to create a North American system of time zones. Efficient rail transportation demanded a more uniform time keeping system. The Railroad companies agreed to divide the continent into four time zones. The dividing lines adopted were very close to the ones we use today.
Prior to the railroad industry creating a new time code system, people across the continent had their own version of time keeping. It wasn’t something that could be measured by wearing a watch- it required people to look up at the sun! They made references such as “high noon” when planning to meet. They woke up with the sun and stopped working in the fields when the sun went down. Try for one minute to imagine how liberating this lifestyle could possibly be!
When is the last time you powered down your cell phone, took off your watch and let go of the concept of time? Maybe you went for a day hike with friends and family, or a picnic or sporting event for the children. Or maybe you were traveling and had no real need to be tied to time. Do you remember what it felt like to just wander?
Do you remember summers when you were a kid? You probably roamed the neighborhood with your friends until the sun started to go down! You probably were not even wearing a watch back then. If your parents needed you, they either stood out on the sidewalk calling for you, or they began calling your friends parents to see where you had last been seen. Ah, what freedom of mind- body and spirit!
We live in a time and culture in which every single minute counts. We pay attention to such a degree that some might say we obsess about time. There is no escaping the concept of minute by minute and hour by hour attention when we have meetings and appointments etc.. However, it is important to consciously check in with ourselves as to how much we need to live by the Railroad company’s creation of time!
We’ve been studying the habits and lifestyles of healthy and active Centenarians. We’ve found that those who go through life NOT measuring time and being ruled by its passing seem to be the Vital ones! They live in the here and now- moment by moment! They don’t worry about tomorrow and they don’t linger in the past. They wake up to the sun and put on a pot of coffee or tea and greet the day with a smile!
Just for today… ask yourself how you can suspend the restraints of time! Maybe you can decide that after dinner you will read, have conversations with loved ones or journal until you start yawning. Let constant yawning be your guide to when it is time to allow yourself to go to sleep! Let your hunger be the dinner bell for when it is time for you to eat! Let your body give you the signals and clues necessary for when you need to exercise or stretch. The more you connect to and listen to your body’s signals, the easier it is to let go of the concept of time as you have come to know and experience it.
Wishing you a time- LESS day!
Here is today’s Vital Reset ReMINDer:
“When you try to control everything, you enjoy nothing. Sometimes you just need to relax, breathe, let go and just live in the moment.”
My very best wishes for an exceptional day and to your long and vital life.