Since the weekend I’ve been overwhelmed with shock when reading the news. The media operation against journalists in Istanbul, Turkey on Sunday morning, the Sydney siege on Monday, the murder attack at a school killing 141 people (mainly children) in Pakistan on Tuesday, it’s Wednesday today and that meant dramas in the office- it’s all too much for me to take in. Ever thought what it would be like if time was to stand still? If you woke up and didn’t know what time it was or whether or not you were running late for somewhere you had to be? It’s something that we tend not to really think about or maybe even realise, but when you think about our lives are in the hands of a round face with two hands and 12 numbers. Without time life would be… very strange.
Imagine not knowing what time to go to school, to have lunch, or to even reach that important meeting you have with your new manager. Was it at 8am or at noon? Didn’t you eat breakfast before leaving the house, yes so why is your stomach grumbling all of a sudden? It’s crazy to think that our day to day lives are controlled by time, we have 24 hours in order to complete everything we need to and if we don’t, then “I’ll do it tomorrow.” We say. Right now I’m on time too it’s almost 6pm in North Cyprus and I have max an hour to submit my column. I have what we call a ‘deadline’ in media terms and if I don’t meet it then I can say bye-bye to this week’s column.
When I think about time, my mind overthinks because I’m a person who constantly racing with the clock, trying to beat it, trying to be there before the time I need to be, working out how many hours of sleep I’ll have (right now I’m on three) and whether or not I’ll have enough time to fit in a shopping trip, coffee with a friend and still make it back in time for my doctors’ appointment that day?
It hurts me to say this, but without time we’d be lost, our lives would have no routine, no order and we’d probably think that in this world forever was possible. I can’t imagine what the world would be like with people not knowing the time. Walking into a restaurant and there being no clocks, having a cooker with no timer and going into an exam and not knowing when the invigilator will say: “Stop writing and put your pens down please”. It’s frightening when you think about it isn’t it? It scares me out my wit that’s for sure.
The three news stories I wrote at the beginning will be part of 2014’s history, they will be marked with dates, time and explain exactly what happened- the one thing they all have in common? As each one happened, time stood still for those people being arrested, taken hostage or worst yet being killed. Their time was up and no longer would they have the chance to look at the clock again, it sends chills up my spine just writing it.
I want you to take a moment and have a think about time and realise that as humans we are the only living-being controlled by it. No cat, dog, tree, plant or even bird wonders what time it is or worries about being late for work. Time is so precious, yet we waste it like it’s a never-ending story. Unfortunately it isn’t and the fear we have of time running out will disappear forever, don’t wait till then. Use it wisely and use it now, because time is ticking fast.
