Gimme a Minute

A heart-to-heart with Time

by Nina Winham

Oh, Time. I hate to say it, but I think we’ve come to that point. You know, we just aren’t seeing eye to eye. It’s not the same between us anymore.
I know it’s a special month for you—there are the usual January pictures of you dressed up like a baby to ring in the New Year. Cute. And we’re supposed to lionize you by starting fresh with some New Year’s resolutions.

Sorry, I’m not in the mood. I’m still thinking about that conversation we had a while back with that personal coach. You remember, when she had us sit down and “discuss our relationship.” (I know you don’t like the term “time management.”) Well, of course, everyone feels a little silly doing these things at first. But wasn’t it revealing when I suddenly blurted out how much I resent you?

I know we have a long history together, but I can’t help it. I do resent you! You hound me, pester me, make me feel inadequate. How am I supposed to get to my damn list when you’re always walking away, continuing on your path, with that gawd-awful measured pace, relentlessly consistent. I can’t keep up! Give me a break once in a while. Take a holiday. Lay off!

You know why I resent you? You constantly, darkly, frustratingly remind me that I’m mortal. Yep, I’m gonna die one day, probably with the stupid list still in hand. That’s what bothers me. You only give so much of yourself, and then that’s it. Kaput. (This is why the baby schtick doesn’t impress me a bit.)

OK, I admit you had a few things to say in that session, too. True, I’m not very respectful of you; I’m not content to just let you be who you are. It’s true (sigh), you’re immutable. You’re age-old. You’re way bigger than me. And I know, I know, I know you are not able to “flex.” It’s just that you’re so all-important, and you’re going to be here long after I’m gone; it’s hard not to feel totally insignificant in this relationship. You’ve gotta admit, the cards are all stacked on your side.

That’s why we have such a love-hate thing going. But there’s more to it than that. Somehow we went sideways a few generations ago. Remember? All those new “labour-saving” devices—they were supposed to enrich our relationship, right? The reduction in the work week too—from 12-16 hour days in the 19th century to legislation protecting time off from work—that was supposed to free us up to get to know each other better. But it didn’t work out that way.

Instead of using the tools to free us from labour, instead of becoming an enlightened and unenslaved society, we started a little love affair on the side, didn’t we? And we keep playing you off against our new love. “Time equals money,” they say. (As if all the money in the world could buy us more time when we really wanted it.) So we work more… to get more money… to get more things… which we have little time to enjoy or take care of. Hmm. No wonder you’ve been peevish lately.

OK, Time. I get it. If I want to enjoy our relationship, I have to be more proactive, don’t I? I can’t buy my way into more time, but I can work less and have more. So maybe this year I will resolve to make a little more room for you, stop pushing you out while I rush around with my list. You know, just be together. What do you think of that?

Time? Time! Damn… there you go, walking off again. Sigh. Wait up!

Nina Winham is principal of New Climate Strategies (newclimate.ca), helping clients build value through sustainability practices and effective communications. She’d like to invite Time over for dinner and see if she could slow it down with a fine bottle of wine.