our preoccupation with time has conditioned us to keep schedules and we do spend the majority of our lives living by the clock. sometimes, instead of soaking in all the experiences, we become too busy trying to keep up with our schedules; trying to stay one step ahead of it all. and because of these perceived time constraints, we often forget how important it is to sometimes allow ourselves the luxury of a little bit of spontaneity or even silliness.
"don't ask any questions. just put your shoes on and come with us." today, at 2 am six kids, including the Turk, Ace (aka the Pan), the Burns, "Calvinand", Hobbes &Flip (myself) decided to pile into a tiny two-door coupe to drive all over chicago until the sun came up.
climbing under the wires to stand on the rocks by the lake as we hold hands to form a circle, skipping all the way to campion from coffey at 1:30 in the morning wearing pajamas and red fuzzy slippers, being a little tipsy & deciding to walk to a park in the suburbs to play in a playground, going on "missions"; i wouldn't trade any of these experiences for anything in this world. ten, or twenty, or thirty or however many years from now, i doubt i'll remember even half of the things i take notes on during lecture. i doubt i'll remember a lot of what i've read in all these books, nor will i remember the details of topics i've written extensive essays and taken lengthy tests on. but i will remember these late-night outings, and more importantly, the people i shared these experiences with. years from now, after graduation, after landing my dream job, after finally figuring out what i want out of this life, i'll still be able to reach into the special place wherein i tuck all of these memories safely away. i can look back fondly, feel a great big stupid grin creeping on, and chuckle to myself.
college is supposedly where we are supposed to step into adulthood. as i packed my things in preparation for this new life to begin, i was told that i was in fact getting ready to leave my childhood behind. i suppose that i somehow equated this transition with committing myself to seriousness. but i'll tell you right now that one of the most important lessons that i've learned this year is to never take myself too seriously. another one is to spend my time wisely, but never to become too busy to do things that i enjoy.
someone once told me that time was a predator that stalked us all our lives. i'd rather believe that time is a companion that goes with us on a journey, reminding us to cherish every moment because they might never come again.
posted by: Ra (reply)
post date: 03.31.04 (10:13 pm)
What beautiful writing! And what truthful messages. Keep writing because I love reading what you have to say. And when the day comes that you have landed your dream job, you won't be looking back on your college follies alone, but with all of us laughing beside you.
