As many people in my life know, this is an insane time of year for me. It's the magical orientation season, where I spend anywhere from 12-18 hours a day on campus facilitating our new community members receiving information on a variety of topics and working with our student leaders. My life is dictated by the hands on the face of my watch, down to the second. Where I am, what I need to be doing, if I have time to go to the restroom and if I can talk to anyone outside of my campus family. It's a give and take, a push and pull, and consumer of all of my energies.
So when I say that I've been thinking a lot about time lately, it's a dramatic understatement. But as I go through these daily cycles, I do find time to have some really great conversations. And time has been the center of a lot of those conversations lately. And how time in the grand sense is such a funny thing.
The timing of how and when things occurs is an interesting 'system' (for lack of a better word). Really, what I've found is that I go about living my life, trying to be present in the moment, enjoying where I am and who I'm with because before you know it, the moments are gone. People sometimes give me a hard time for not always wanting to take or be in photos. And I appreciate what photos do: capture those fleeting moments that come and go all too quickly. But I also (usually) hate the distraction from the moment taking the picture becomes. Sometimes the taking of the picture becomes the moment, and I recognize that. But usually I feel its an interruptor.
Back to the heart of the matter-- timing is funny. For me, it seems to come in the form (or in my loved ones lives) of you meet someone great, someone you really connect with, and the timing is all kinds of wonky. You move. They move. There's a connection but someone is in a relationship. It's a friend's ex. You don't live anywhere near the person. There's not enough time. So many variables that keep so many potential valuable relationships just passing ships in the night.
And that can be such a hard situation to deal with. I was just saying last night that since part of my job is to connect with people, I find it easy to do. I can talk to anyone. So when I find someone I really connect with- shared passions, interests and giggles- I get excited. And it's hard for your head and heart to be on the same page with these feelings sometimes. Your heart loves the attention and connection, while your head is saying 'dummy this is all fleeting, why bother?' Sometimes you get caught up in the 'what if' of the situation.
What if I hadn't responded to that text?
What if I hadn't moved?
What if I hadn't had a partner the last time we were in the same city?
What if they followed through?
So many thoughts and I don't think there are any answers in these situations. But friends, you aren't alone when you ask yourself these questions. There's always the ones that got away and the what ifs, but don't let them stop you from connecting and submersing yourself in the beautiful moments of life. Because despite the ones I always wonder 'well, could it have...' I wouldn't change a thing about having those moments with them.
So when I say that I've been thinking a lot about time lately, it's a dramatic understatement. But as I go through these daily cycles, I do find time to have some really great conversations. And time has been the center of a lot of those conversations lately. And how time in the grand sense is such a funny thing.
The timing of how and when things occurs is an interesting 'system' (for lack of a better word). Really, what I've found is that I go about living my life, trying to be present in the moment, enjoying where I am and who I'm with because before you know it, the moments are gone. People sometimes give me a hard time for not always wanting to take or be in photos. And I appreciate what photos do: capture those fleeting moments that come and go all too quickly. But I also (usually) hate the distraction from the moment taking the picture becomes. Sometimes the taking of the picture becomes the moment, and I recognize that. But usually I feel its an interruptor.
Back to the heart of the matter-- timing is funny. For me, it seems to come in the form (or in my loved ones lives) of you meet someone great, someone you really connect with, and the timing is all kinds of wonky. You move. They move. There's a connection but someone is in a relationship. It's a friend's ex. You don't live anywhere near the person. There's not enough time. So many variables that keep so many potential valuable relationships just passing ships in the night.
And that can be such a hard situation to deal with. I was just saying last night that since part of my job is to connect with people, I find it easy to do. I can talk to anyone. So when I find someone I really connect with- shared passions, interests and giggles- I get excited. And it's hard for your head and heart to be on the same page with these feelings sometimes. Your heart loves the attention and connection, while your head is saying 'dummy this is all fleeting, why bother?' Sometimes you get caught up in the 'what if' of the situation.
What if I hadn't responded to that text?
What if I hadn't moved?
What if I hadn't had a partner the last time we were in the same city?
What if they followed through?
So many thoughts and I don't think there are any answers in these situations. But friends, you aren't alone when you ask yourself these questions. There's always the ones that got away and the what ifs, but don't let them stop you from connecting and submersing yourself in the beautiful moments of life. Because despite the ones I always wonder 'well, could it have...' I wouldn't change a thing about having those moments with them.
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