The Moments We Share

Time is our greatest privilege and most valuable possession. It seems that the older we get, the less of it we have at our disposal. We get jobs, build relationships, and the space to breathe between our obligations dwindles. This reality used to pain me. If I had been writing this a few months ago, I may have ranted about the importance of leisure time and the issues with the normalization of being overworked. Today, I am less bitter. I am encouraged by the fact that we have such a beautiful gift at our disposal to share with ourselves and others.

I currently work four jobs. Now we’ll save the debate about how sane that is for another time, but the point for now is that I have less spare time than I ever have. On top of that, I am a person with very limited social energy. I don’t see myself as needing to be pulled “out of my shell” or improved upon in this way—it is a part of me that I am at peace with. But what this means to me, in the positive, is that the time I share with people means a great deal to me. As I’ve started to grow into “real” adulthood, I’ve noticed a lot of friends begrudging the fact that they got to spend, for example, one hour instead of an entire day with someone. Which is absolutely understandable. That is, until the time they do get is so overshadowed by this frustration that it can’t even be enjoyed.

I have found that being on the receiving end of this frustration can hurt. Whether a person has no job or four, is extroverted or introverted, their time is inherently valuable. Our time is a gift of ourselves that no one else on the planet can give. Keeping that in mind can bring joy back into even the most rushed meetings and passing “hellos”. Please know, my dear friends, that I wish I had more time to spend with all of you. I wish my life allowed for more 5-hour phone calls and afternoons spent sipping coffee with nowhere to be. I can assure you that your loved ones probably feel the same. Today, I am happy to schedule a 15-minute chat instead of forgoing plans if my whole day isn’t free. It can be hard to convince ourselves that 15 minutes isn’t too little time to mean much, both on the giving or receiving end. But let’s work on trusting that our time is valuable and impactful. Let’s work on trusting that the time others give us matters. The more time we spend giving gravity to the moments we share, the more pockets of joy we can find amidst the busyness.