Sometimes, I think some rather random things. I don’t know if they are worth sharing or appropriate (well, the answer is probably a resounding “NO” on both counts there, actually), but, now they’re out there. And you can’t unread them. You’re welcome. 

I recently had an interesting conversation about the essence of time, and myriad of ways in which you can conceptualize it. The topic arose from a quarterly that in its latest issue presented the concept of time as mused upon by esteemed historical figures of all disciplines. Shortly thereafter I had another, somewhat tangentially related conversation which questioned the validity of who I am based upon who I used to be. Frustrated at my inability to show that I was positively juxtaposed to my younger self, I began to collapse inwards in a fit of depression.

Though I have yet to climb out of the hole that swallowed me, the existential pondering occuring within this hole teased me with the importance of holding a ‘proper’ concept of time. Let me hit you with it right now:

There is no past. There is no future. There is only right now. So much of what we get frustrated with in life exists simply because we are taking cues from a present that no longer exists and aiming for a present that has not yet come into existence. We can’t change what happened before this moment any more than we can change what will happen before it is happening. BUT – if we focus on right now

HE never finished the thought – likely for the better; he was unduly pretentious. But if I saw him again, I would tell him this:  

As you reach out to the fire, you will be burned. You will always try. You should always try. Don’t forget to add kindling. Bring your ointment and enjoy the moment before you learn of how much it hurts.

-Namakemono