I’ve always believed that time has three components – the past, the future, and the present.

Remembering the Past

We all have a past a time which we have already lived through, a time when we experienced many new things, both good and not so good.

As we look back at those times we have some very fond memories that will remain with us all our lives.

We also have regrets of things we didn’t do and of some things we now realise that we could have done better.

Many people dwell in the past and wish that everything could remain the same, they are unhappy with the changes that take place around them.

To me the past is an important part of my life, the childhood memories of family members that are no longer with me, that will always remain in my heart.

There were times in the past when it was hard to cope, these times made me stronger. It is also a time that I learnt a lot of life lessons.

There were a lot of wonderful experiences that I can look back on, all these things helped to shape me into the person I am today.

Anticipating the future

This is an unknown part of our lives; we all have aspirations of what we would like to happen. We often spend time thinking and dreaming of a worry free future, a time when we will be able to enjoy the rest of our lives doing the things that will bring contentment.

How often do we hear people ‘say someday I will have my own business’. ‘One day I will go on a holiday overseas!’

I call this day dreaming, and yes I do it. We all do. There is nothing wrong with daydreams, but if we don’t act on them today, they will just remain dreams.

I always wanted to one day travel overseas, but I did nothing to make it happen. It was just something I thought about, until my friend asked me if I would like to travel overseas with her.

Instantly it became a daunting thought that I had to decide ad act upon then and there. My dream became a reality and I travelled many times since that day.

Plans and dreams are important but if we want them to happen in our future we must realise that someday and one day are not days of the week.

If we are serious about planning for the future we must set a time frame to begin working on our hopes and dreams for the future.

Living in the present

The present is where we live; to get the most out of life we need to live in the present moment. Today is the most important time of our life, and the only time that we are able to change our lives for the better.

Now is the time to set goals for those things we want in our lives, it is also the time to plan and set a time frame for the future. We live in the present moment so make it count.

There is an old saying ‘Time and tide wait for no man.’

We cannot stop the passing of time therefore we should not delay doing things. Our awareness should be completely focused on the present. When we live in the present we are living where life is happening.

We can look back at the past and learn from it, but one must be careful not to be a victim of the past.

We can plan for the future, but we must be careful not to become a slave to the future, always dwelling on what one day could be.

A quote from Eckhart Tolle: The power of creating a better future is contained in the present moment. You will create a better future by creating a good present.

As I grow older, I realise that what we do in the present is what makes our life worthwhile. Growing from past experiences and making each moment count enhances our future.

We are each given a special time, enjoy your time and make it work to bring you fulfilment.

My time is now.

– Nancy