My Time
Is there something called as My Time and your time? Isn’t time a universal factor and as the saying goes, “Time and Tide wait for no Man”. Yes, that’s the hitch with time, one can never own it and use it as and when required. With this being the case, how we utilize time becomes sacrosanct. Use it wisely and we are sure to reap benefits.
While we were young, time was spent in the company of family and peers. We did have our My Time while we studied, read a book, practiced music or dance or any other hobby. If we look at the various activities that we did for ourselves during our My Time, we realize that each of those activities were productive and resulted in self-improvement or bettering ourselves. And then came youth loaded with new beginnings be it at work or marriage or being a part of an association or something else. Did we get My Time then? I’m sure we did and this would hold true for those who became most successful in their chosen fields. My Time was when we read that book which helped us to improve our concentration or guided us through a new skill, or took us to a gym for toning that flab on the side or the paunch that had started protruding, or took us on that long drive/cycling to when we enjoyed the world around and picked a clue or two from whatever we saw. These moments which we stole from the madding crowd did always sets us apart.
In the midst of all this the universal time moved on and before we realize, we reach the hallowed age of sixty and above. If we are well settled and comfortable in life, there is always someone to do things for us, leaving us to be lazy and thus become non-competitive. We could easily from that launching pad get into a state when nothing interests us anymore and literally we become zombies.
I must say that life has given me some jolts and so instead of being a contended housewife reading books, watching television and making the usual phone calls, I had no option but to become a working woman at the age of 58. Coupled with this, I decided to join Rotary and there, took up leadership roles. Thus, my days became busy and you could say that I was missing on My Time. Walks were a part of my life earlier on and I have had the good fortune to walk in some of the best spaces in Chennai be it the Marina Beach, Loyola College campus or the Madras Christian College School Campus. Then of course this was followed by walking on the road in the early hours of the morning. The uneven roads and the stray dog menace put an end to this routine.
My Time being important, I decided to make the best use of the facilities that were available to me. Thus started my morning walks on the 2000 sq ft space that my terrace provided. One may wonder as to how long can anyone walk on this said space. I’m being honest when I say that I walk for an hour and cover over three kilometers. Considering I’m on the wrong side of 60’s, 67 to be precise, I think it is an achievement. This precious hour which is between 5.30am to 6.30 am, has turned out to be the most important. I get to appreciate nature, I get to have my communications with my Almighty, I get to plan my day, I get to consider which part of my body is giving me trouble and much more. At the end of the hour, I feel rejuvenated, competent and ready to take on the world. As if this is not enough, I have brought into my routine forty five minute of Yoga as well. This is definitely My Time, because at the end of each Asana, my mind lets me know which part of my body is being worked upon, and which needs more care. I can feel the positive change in my body with every passing day.
Do I need to snatch more of My Time? Sudoku is a must for me and the days when the newspaper comes with a four or five star category, has me strategizing to get the right number for the squares. Keeps the mind super busy. I’m passionate about writing and if I come across any interesting incident, object or thought, I convert it into a blog. This is definitely a no intrusion zone. Mine and mine alone. It’s again My Time when I watch the inane political arguments that the Indian media is famous for putting forth. Of late, these shows have started to get boring and the day is not far when I will stop watching these charades. Reading does happen, but not as much as I would like it to be.
For me, My Time is that period when something productive is achieved. But then what is productive for me, may not be for someone else. I’m no one to comment on the quality of My Time that others prefer. All I say is that My Time is precious and request you to scoop out yours from the Universal Time which gushes at a speed hard to hold back!!
– Ms.Usha
