Is Time a Major Factor to Life?

Day 3
Session 7

 
    It was Monday morning and I was not at work. What a delicious feeling, to be on holiday, albeit a working holiday, and one that was proving more arduous than my teaching at the College. I lay in the tiny caravan bedroom and listened to the wind in the trees outside. It was still early, I had slept well and without dreams, as if I had gone too deep for dreaming, probably processing all the new information I had acquired.

I extended my awareness as I had been taught. I was aware of the leaves brushing the roof, of the birds singing, of a spider weaving a web outside the window. I brought my awareness inside. I was aware of my body, still warm and drowsy from sleep, reluctant to move just yet, of my mind, crisp and alert and a sense of excitement and a realisation that for the first time in many years I was happy.

I explored the feeling of happiness within me, and with my attention upon it, the sensation expanded and swelled like the waves on the ocean. I let the feeling roll over me and felt a tingling ripple through me from top to toe. I heaved a deep, involuntary sigh and closed my eyes to experience the bliss more fully.

It was another twenty minutes before I felt ready to move and greet the day. I stumbled into the bathroom still in a daze and showered myself awake.

Stanley was nowhere to be seen. The door to his room stood open, so I presumed he had gone for a walk. He returned after about ten minutes and joined me for a cup of tea, although, as usual, he declined breakfast.

Betty arrived just before nine, bright and breezy in a turquoise blue velvet leisure suit. She looked smart and cheerful as if she had chosen something special to wear for the occasion.

‘Morning both, how are you?’ she enquired, looking from one to the other.

‘I’m fine thanks,’ I answered, as I went forward to embrace her.

‘All the better for seeing you Betty my angel,’ Stanley gushed, putting his arms around her. ‘Come on in Bett, we are just about to start.’

‘Yesterday was very interesting and gave me a lot to think about.’

‘Well hopefully you’ll do more than just think,’ Stanley raised his eyebrows in a joking way, although he left no doubt from his tone that he was serious.

‘Yes of course,’ Betty sat down, somewhat flustered and I handed her a mug of coffee.

Without giving us time to converse his manner changed and he began with his usual bow.

‘Welcome ladies, today our workshop is entitled, Is Time a Major Factor to Life?’

I opened my note pad and wrote down the title:

 Is Time a Major Factor to Life?

 

    I finished and looked up expectantly to find Stanley’s piercing blue eyes staring expectantly back at me.

‘So ladies, do we think, it is?’

‘Well yes, of course it is,’ to me it seemed obvious.

Betty was more cautious, she had come to realise that not everything was straightforward with Stanley, or Ti Ming.

His gaze shifted to Betty. ‘Well Betty, you haven’t given me your answer yet, what do you think?’

‘I’m not sure,’ she was not going to be drawn.

‘OK,’ he said lightly. ‘Well supposing we accept Abby’s answer and explore why we might say that yes, Time is a Major Factor to Life.’

I wrote down:

 
Reasons why Time is a Major Factor to Life

 
   
    We both waited.

He waited as well. After a few moment’s silence he gave up expecting us to come out with the answer.

‘Now come on ladies, I know it’s still early but will someone please give me a reason to start us off. Abby, you said yes, so can you tell me why you think time is a major factor to life?’

‘Well,’ I began, ‘I suppose that time is a major factor to life because we need to interact in society. I have to start work at nine o’clock every day, – I couldn’t just turn up whenever I fancied. We started these workshops today at nine. Everyone knows where they are if we agree a time. Betty knew when to arrive and June knows the afternoon sessions start at two thirty.’

‘OK,’ Stanley nodded.

Betty looked thoughtful. ‘We’ve already done this haven’t we in the first session, What is Time? Can you look it up Abby?’

I obediently flipped the pages of my notepad.

‘Hmm,’ Stanley looked on disapprovingly.

Betty looked defiant. ‘Well, what’s the point in reinventing the wheel?’

‘Oh, yes, here it is,’ I found the place.

‘I said it was a framework, a way of measuring the seasons. It was survival and evolution. You said Betty that it brought order and was a way of meeting people – which we’ve already said.’

‘Oh yes,’ Betty peered over my shoulder, ‘there was the bit about personal and non personal time wasn’t there?’

‘Yes,’ I agreed, ‘personal time is “I am the experiencer”, and non personal time is the experience.’

‘Well thank you so much for your input ladies. Well remembered both of you.’

We smiled back sweetly, unrepentant.

‘You’re welcome,’ Betty murmured.

‘And would you therefore say that all those reasons are indications that Time is a Major Factor to Life?’

‘Yes,’ we both concurred.

‘Right, so can you now please tell me what are the conse?quences of having Time as a Major Factor in your Life?’

‘Well, it’s stressful,’ I remarked, ‘there never seems to be enough time to do all the things you want to do.’

‘Or need to do,’ added Betty.

‘So it causes stress?’ Stanley repeated, and indicated with a wave of his hand towards my notepad. I duly wrote:

The effects of saying
Yes, Time is a Major Factor to Life
 (a) Stress

 
    ‘You also said there was not enough time.’

I nodded agreement.

‘So you could add that another effect is to limit your actions, as you don’t get everything done that you want or need to do. Would that be right?’

We both nodded and I wrote:

(b) Limits actions

 

    ‘And if it stops you from doing the things you want to do, you might say what?’

I shrugged, my mind had gone blank all of a sudden.

He looked at Betty hopefully, but she was looking at my notes.

‘That it inhibits your self expression maybe?’ he offered.

Betty nodded ‘Yes, I would say that.’

Stanley waved at me. I hurriedly added:

(c) Inhibits self expression

 

    ‘I would say it inhibits bodily expression as well,’ Betty remarked, watching what I was writing.

‘Why would you say that?’ enquired Stanley.

‘Well, often you don’t have enough time to allow the body to have all its needs, digestion for instance, or exercise. People rush around gulping food down as quickly as possible, or worse still, eat while they’re working, and give themselves little or no time for rest and relaxation or exercising.’

‘It’s a good point Betty,’ Stanley waved at my pad once more and I added:

(d) Inhibits bodily expression

‘So do you think ladies that saying Yes, Time is a Major Factor to Life is a good thing?’

‘Well perhaps not good, but necessary,’ Betty answered.

‘What’s the point of asking us that anyway?’ I asked, somewhat petulantly, ‘I mean, what choice do we have?’

‘Well you have the choice to say No,’ Stanley suggested.

‘How can we do that?’ I demanded.

‘Well let’s investigate it shall we and find out?’ he invited.

‘Tell me what would be the consequences of saying No, Time is not a Major Factor to Life?’

‘Well, if Time was not a Major Factor then we’d be able to slow down,’ Betty looked thoughtful.

‘And if we slowed down, what would happen?’ Stanley probed further.

‘Well, you could be yourself.’

‘Betty, you could be yourself, and Abby, what about you?’

‘Mmmm,’ I wrote down what he had said and considered it before answering.

Consequences of saying No,

Time is not a Major Factor to Life

 
    ‘Well, if Time was not a Major Factor in my life and I had all the time I needed, I suppose I would be more organised.’

‘And if you were more organised what would you do?’

‘I’d complete all the projects I’ve got on the go, so I suppose I’d feel happy, successful and fulfilled.’

‘Wow, that’s a lot, is there more?’

‘Well for me, I would be a more interesting person,’ Betty decided, ‘I could do more than just housework, I could live life to the full.