Tag: time

Time Flies When You’re Having Fun

Recently, I had the chance to see a band live in concert on their ‘reunion’ tour of sorts – for the first time in nine years. While getting the chance to see this group again for the first time in a long time was something special all on its own, it also gave me the opportunity to reflect on life. To be honest, it made me feel a bit sentimental about my own life and how much growth I’ve seen over the last nine years.

There’s nothing wrong with romanticizing your life, and in a way, I think that’s what I’ve done when reflecting on the last nine years. The last time I saw this band, I was 22 years old and still maybe a little lost. The last time I saw this band – at this same venue, in fact – my dad was kind enough to provide transportation. Now, of course, he’s long since passed on.

It’s wild how time flies, and so much can change in a span of (in this case) nine years. Today, I’m 31, happily married for nearly six years and working a full-time job that I’ve been at for nearly eight years. I finally have a driver’s license and a car – two things I was still seeking back then – and in a few months, I’ll be moving to a new apartment. (It’ll be the fourth place I’ve called home since 2013). My life feels stable, healthy, comfortable – all great things. If you would’ve told me back in 2013 that I’d be where I am right now, my mind would’ve been blown.

And if you would’ve told 22-year-old me that I’d get to see that band again someday, at the same venue, but with very different life circumstances – and bringing my husband along to the concert – I would’ve shook my head at you and laughed.

Thinking about time in this way makes me think about how it also moves differently over the span of our lives. As an example, nine years ago, one of my nephews wasn’t even born yet. (He was born in late July 2013). These years have been the entirety of his LIFE, and yet only a small part of mine. If I think I’ve experienced growth and development in my life over the years, I need only look at his life to see just how much can happen in a period of time.

As the kids would say: it made me feel some type of way.

by melissaburgess

Time Is A Funny Thing

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about the concept of time.

It’s such a subjective thing, in some ways; time can mean so many different things to different people living in different circumstances.

(Photo: Giang Nguyễn / Flickr)
(Photo: Giang Nguyễn / Flickr)

For instance, I just passed my seven-year anniversary at my workplace. When I mention this milestone to others, there are often mixed reactions. Some, who have been at the workplace for 30+ years, say something like “Oh, that’s nothing!” But looking at the bigger picture, seven years is approximately 29% of my 24-year-old life – and that’s a significant portion.

Another great example of this lies in relationships. My fiancé and I were dating for roughly nine months before we moved in together. To some people, nine months may not seem like a long time, at least in terms of dating and that sort of situation.

Continue reading “Time Is A Funny Thing”

by melissaburgess

Going Back, While Going Forward

IMG_8643Last weekend, I (briefly) visited Conesus Lake, one of the smaller Finger Lakes. We visited the lake at the very top of it, at a place called Vitale Park.

This was my first time there since 2008 when I first visited Conesus Lake – and that very same park – with my aunt, and it really just hit me how we can return to places and have such different experiences years later, and reflect on how much has changed in that span of time.

For instance, my visit in 2008 was with my aunt, whom I love dearly and only get to see a couple of times a year. It was my first-ever Finger Lakes trip, but I still remember it pretty well. We stayed in the area with one of her friends and their family for a weekend, and the park was our last stop before heading back to Buffalo. It was sometime in the summer – August, I believe. I was 17, newly graduated from high school and heading to college.

This visit, it’s 2014, mid-December, with my boyfriend – his first-ever Finger Lakes trip.

We only briefly visited the lake, as we had spent some time in Rochester, about 30 minutes north. But I suggested the visit because of its proximity, and I thought it would be a nice little excursion before returning to reality. The lake was mostly not frozen and it was just as beautiful as it was back in 2008. I’m 24 now, and so much in my life has changed since that first trip.

Obviously that’s to be expected – it’s six years later, after all, so of course things aren’t the same!

I’ve certainly grown in many ways, emotionally, spiritually, mentally. But my life has also grown, and it is becoming exactly what I want it to be. I’m shaping my life and I will continue to do this as the years pass.

I suppose it’s just a nice feeling to have all of these things changed in my life and yet be able to return to a place I visited years ago and have another wonderful experience there. It’s like I’m constantly going forward and have made so many steps in those years, but I was still able to go back, and on even better terms.

by melissaburgess

What’s the Hurry?

One thing I’ve noticed lately is that everyone always seems to be in such a hurry all the time. Rush to do this, hurry through that, this, that, etc. I typically get out of work, rush to pick up my personal belongings and then hurry to go catch my bus home – as if there isn’t another bus in 15 minutes that could get me home, too.

Yesterday, I had to stick around work while I waited for a friend to pick me up so we could head out to Rochester for a concert. I said “Okay, I’ll just take my time getting out of work.” And boy, let me tell you….. it was hard! I realized I’ve become so used to hurrying through things, getting everything done quickly, etc., that it’s almost difficult for me to take my time and slow down.

It was actually hard. I took my time closing down my computer and tidying up my workspace. I took my time gathering my belongings, changing into concert-appropriate attire, and making myself look socially presentable. Still, I had too much time, so I ended up taking a slow walk around the outside blocks of my building. And it was interesting to actually have to push myself to slow down…. but at the same time, it was a nice change from the usual non-stop, constant busy, hurry, go, go, go.

Now, I’m not saying you should move at a snail’s pace. Sometimes, there are time-sensitive tasks that require you to put in the extra effort to be productive in a quick manner. Sometimes, you DO have to hurry to catch that bus or else you won’t be getting home at all that night. But it might be nice sometimes to just slowwwww things down, take your time and don’t hurry yourself through everything.

Life is short as it is…. why are we hurrying to make it even shorter?

by melissaburgess