Today most of the U.S. moved time forward. Our annual shift to daylight time savings time occurred at 2 a.m. (If you forgot, go change your clock!) The Sunshine Protection act, that would that would make U.S. daylight saving time permanent was passed by the U.S. Senate in 2023, but has so far failed to progress further with congressional approval. While the benefits and drawbacks are argued, we have moved time forward until Sunday, Nov. 3, at 2 a.m. when we turn time back and regain the sleep we lost last night. I am happy to 'protect sunshine', but in this American election year, it seems unlikely we will reach further agreements. So I encourage you today to shake it off, and consider your personal relationship with time.
When I settled into California during the pandemic, time altered, as life was focused on place and staying in place. The pandemic brought urgent time pressure for essential workers and research. Those who were on stay-at-home protocol seemed to have too much time, waiting, but in time, many did begin to explore home activities, discover, communicate (digitally) and create. As society reopened here, I found increasing time pressure. There is still a sense of catching up to all the changes of the last few years. This is amplified by those who commute, having had a profound shift in staying at home, then returning to congested urban traffic and office buildings. There is a certain collective, palpable agitation arising in the work week here as 3:00 p.m. approaches and commuters rush to slip out early to beat the escalating traffic mess that surely will come as 5 p.m. arrives. Those who delay may sit in standstill traffic as hours pass until accidents are cleared. What do you do, while waiting?
The question brings Thoreau's profound phrase: "As if you could kill time, without injuring eternity." The idea of 'killing time' trivializes the vastness not just of time, but of life itself. The idea of killing time dates back to the 18th century as recognition of the human tendency to be bored, to disregard life around us, by doing something inessential, or perhaps something necessary but unpleasant (boring), while we anticipate or long for something more exciting in the future. Meanwhile we make do with something or other, until the next thing comes. This is our failure to recognize the timeless infinite in which we "live, move, and have our being". By killing time, we injure ourselves, and miss our true eternal state of Being. We miss the wonder that surrounds us.
This week, I invite you to taste the timeless that surrounds you...is you, and is your world. The modern phrase for this has become mindfulness. But mindfulness has varying definitions and techniques, some complex, some mingled with meditation, some with a split or meta intent of watching yourself, your thoughts and feeling while you encounter or explore. It gets complicated. Rather, experiment. Whether you are scrolling your phone, preparing your taxes or a meal, sitting with friends or your garden... play with it. Give your attention to what your are doing. No dismissal, no guilt, no praise, no judgment, just: "THIS unfolds from the Infinite. This is Time in action."(Susan Nettleton)
..."each moment, each second of life is a miracle"...
Thich Nhat Hanh
for poetry: https://poets.org/poem/time-2
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/.../the-zen-of-housework https://compassioncamp.com/.../12/awareness-by-john-austin/