Time is a curious phenomenon. There is much more to the concept of time than simply the hour and minute of the day. Time creates emotions and moods. Children love playtime and suffer through “time out”. Working adults enjoy time off. Worst of all are those that are “doing time”. 

To some, it is the fourth dimension. It has mystic powers that affect individuals in wildly different

ways. Some good people are quite casual about time, and other equally good people live their lives driven by an overbearing egg-timer.

We are bombarded daily by reminders of time from sources that surround us. We are accustomed to seeing the display of time on the watches we wear and the clocks on the walls. Now, the mobile phones we constantly monitor, give us many more opportunities to check and react to time. We diligently watch at exactly 6 PM the broadcast of breaking news. 

I remember many years ago, trying to play golf twice a week or more. Several friends would comment that they didn’t have that kind of time. I found it amusing to suggest that I lived in some different kind of time dimension. My retort was usually along the lines of we all have the same 24 hours, we just choose to use it differently.

I am not in a position to truly understand the biological clock that is such an important issue for women of childbearing age. However, I am not oblivious to the fact that it can be a huge issue. I can only guess how knowledge and a keen awareness of time can weigh on such an important factor. Time can weigh heavily. 

Perhaps as a 55 and greater community, Pelican Preserve residents are more aware than most of the intricacies and nuances of time. We have a significant amount of experience with time. Many feel that the minutes and hours we have with our grandchildren are “precious” time. We honor those who have lived a long time or been blessed with a long marriage. We guard our time, measure it, covet it. Some are acutely aware that time marches on. We know “tomorrow is promised to no one”. 

Perhaps the fleeting nature of time is sad or even scary for those who dread and fear the end. For others, it brings peace and serenity. Conversely, it might drive us to action. Time might be the defining factor in deciding to travel now rather than wait any longer to visit and reconnect with relatives or friends. 

The people most sensitive about time are often intolerant of those not afflicted in the same way. Impatient for the person in front of them in line. Angry about traffic. Waving the golf cart to cross the road, perhaps friendly, but often frantically to save a precious second or two. 

The powerful forces of time affect us all. What is different is how we react to it. I suspect, but I am not sure, time casual people might be happier than the rest of us. Do they benefit from less stress and anxiety? Are they at peace or are they napping because they are tired?