Time flies... always

Doesn't matter if you're sitting in bed, watching TV, playing video games, in school, solving world hunger, or saving the world, time goes by fast. Sure, certain tough experiences and even some really good ones seem to go by slowly, however I can't avoid being cliche on this one: life is short. Just a second ago our friends came over for New Years Eve, a minute ago I woke up this morning, an hour ago I was in church, a day ago I was in college mid-semester, a week ago I was graduating, a month ago it was the millenium, a year ago I was born.

I've already spent a quarter of my life, and on what? Was it a good investment? It'd be so easy to pass this off as just another year, to dedicate my oh so many new year's resolutions that are deep down very shallow but for me, seemingly hard to accomplish. Perhaps the best thing I can do is not plan on doing this or not doing that... those resolutions never have worked and probably never will work on their own. There needs to be some realization, some deeper understanding and motivation underneath it all. My question to everyone is, what is that motivation?

I think one can take a lot from the cliches Time flies and Life is short. These phrases capture how rare time really is. If time is so rare (so quick and limited), that makes it all the more valuable. Just that sense of value should be enough to motivate us to spend it more wisely. It's like money. To rich people, money is abundant and they are careless with it. But to a poor man, money is a rarity and every penny is valuable.

We are all poor men when it comes to time. We can't possibly, no matter how much we try, get more of it than what we have. If you eat healthier and are safe, perhaps you will save a few years, but the fact remains that nobody in this day and age will live past 124 (unless you plan on setting a new record). The question is, how will you and I spend our time. Will we put value on it and use it wisely, or be thrifty and careless. I couldn't think of a better question to ask on new years.

The good, the bad, and the... not so bad

Ever play the game "Fortunately, Unfortunately"? I think it also is called "Good news, bad news". Honestly I never have played it, and well, I'm not even quite sure it is a game, although I am sure it is some type of activity, perhaps a story or something if not a game. Anyway, the first part of this "game" is coming up with a situation; usually a very simple one. Let's say the situation is a guy flying a small airplane. The idea then is to come up with a series of unfortunate events (which I in no way intended to be a pun on the book or movie...), all the while stating in-between each the positive side or the "Fortunately". The progression of the story could go something like this.

A man is flying a small plane.
Unfortunately, he's in a warzone.
Fortunately, he is a skilled pilot.
Unfortunately, he is flying over enemy territory.
Fortunately, he is a civilian.
Unfortunately, the enemy doesn't care.
Fortunately, he is near the border.
Unfortunately, there's an enemy plane on his tail.
Fortunately, he has guns.
Unfortunately, they're in his pockets.
Fortunately, he is more maneuverable.
Unfortunately, his right wing is hit.
Fortunately, he has landing gear.
Unfortunately, it's meant for water landings.
Fortunately, he has a parachute.
Unfortunately, the ground is solid from the cold.
Fortunately, there's a haystack nearby.
Unfortunately, there's a pitchfork in the haystack.
Fortunately, he missed the pitchfork.
Unfortunately, he missed the haystack.

And so on, if one wished to continue going. But it related well to my situation right now, as I could go on and on about the bad things that have happened and the not so bad side of them, and vice versa. I could say my first semester of college had some pretty stupid classes that could've been much better and that I spent way too much time doing work in *COUGH* engineering *COUGH*. But at the same time, I did learn something from the class and I got an A in it (to my surprise). I could also say I that it's great that I have a lot of time on my hands now that winter break is here, but then again, my break won't mean anything unless I use that time for something effective. The question I have to ask my self is, do I have good news or bad news where I am right now? If the answer isn't good news, maybe I need to reprint the headlines with something different, i.e. work to get myself to where my life is a book full of good news and good news to come.