'Time is our most precious commodity' - you've heard that expression before I'm sure.

Have you ever stopped to think about how you actually perceive time though? We all seem so busy these days, as if we have this HUGE hour glass of time measuring unending decades...

I know for a fact that I’ve lived many, many years of my life thinking, either consciously or subconsciously, that there just weren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done.

I love the expression, “Why put off until tomorrow what you can do today, because if you like it, you can do it again tomorrow” Yet with the perception that there wasn’t ‘enough’ time, I was always right!

Deepak Chopra asked in his book 'Unconditional Life, "Can it be that time will wait for one man and overtake another, depending on what each one expects?"

A couple of decades ago, I was in this seminar and they asked us if we had our wills together...

Right after that they suggested we write our epitaph - you know, what would we like people to say at our funeral...

Then, the clincher: they told us to get out our wallets and purses (hmmm, didn't sound good - had we come to the right seminar? Was there something in the fine print we'd missed?)

They proceeded to demand that we "whip it out!" We all looked at each other in bewilderment, "whip it out"? What on earth were they talking about? Finally, after the full gravity of our confusion permeated the air, weighing each atom as heavily as a freshly baked warm piece of bread drenched in honey, they said, "Whip out your guarantee of life card"...

We understood completely.  In unison we began contemplating the epitaphs we'd just written while clinging to that illusive hourglass measuring decades. Taking off our rose colored glasses, we wondered if there would be time to make any of it come true...

Do you ever find yourself putting some things off with the idea that you’ll be around for a long time? Or treating your spouse, children, family members or friends with indifference because they’ll be around for a long time?

The truth of the matter is, all we have a guarantee of is this very moment in time.

Nay, perhaps even these mere 30 seconds!

We like to think we’ll be around for a long time. At this very moment, I’d like to think I’ll be around at least until I finish writing this story.

With expressions such as, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life, but it could also be the last” circling repetitiously through my head, along with the fear that there wasn’t enough time, I lived literally running on the treadmill of life. Sure, I got a lot done, but at what cost?

We all know people with the same perception of time as I had - or perhaps, you've been that way yourself? You'll have someone come up to you wanting to talk when you're busy. They'll say "Hi, how are you?" or "Mommy look!" and you don't want to ignore them or be rude, so you respond. But what they feel is that you just don't have enough time for them. It's like you're standing there, tapping your foot, holding a '3 minute timer'...

You discuss the weather, or their problem saying, "Go ahead, I care... honestly I do..." [NOT! $$$ as you breeze past on your way to __?__ ...$$$]

I had to let go of my fear that there wasn’t enough time. Now I try to look at my perception, reflections and feelings in each moment. If this is really, REALLY my last moment, how do I want to BE in this moment? I remind myself that in my last moment, I don’t want to BE rushing, I don’t want to BE afraid.

I want to BE calm, peaceful, loving, caring, giving and sharing my wisdom

in hopes that it will help whoever I’m with.

So, I lovingly share this little pearl of wisdom to perhaps encourage you to think about how you are perceiving time and thus, what others feel from you. Please do give it a little thought, especially when you’re with your spouses, your children, your co-workers, your friends, your neighbors, or those who may need your help...

Here's an envelope, filled with a little card that helps remind me whenever I open my wallet. I printed a few up, business card style to offer others when I feel that '3 minute timer'. Unfortunately, they haven't had time to listen to my story (too subtle?). Naturally, I still have a few if you'd like one. Or you could print your own up if you have the time. It's a guarantee of life card, but as you know, it's only good for this very moment in time.

HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE?

If this were indeed your last moment in time,

HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE AT THIS VERY MOMENT?

And just in case: how do you want to BE ---- remembered?