Your Time (or Lack Thereof)

How have you used your time today?

I’m sure by now you have heard the news of the horrific events that took place in Vegas on Sunday, October 1st. It is heartbreaking to see so many people killed by the hands of one person. It is difficult for me to accept that these people were taken from the world early, having not yet fulfilled their purpose or lived a full life. They were just trying to have fun at a concert, one of the many beautiful things one could enjoy as part of the human experience. 

What did you feel when you heard the news about Vegas? Shocked? Angry? Broken?

I was at a loss of words, heart-broken, and in so much emotional pain.

After spending some time in silence praying for those who got hurt and for those who lost their lives, I had a glimpse into the reality of my existence. I realized my time here is short. Everyone’s time here is short. And I can barely remember what I’ve done in my life.

I mean, can you even remember what you ate yesterday? Or what you talked about with someone yesterday? I know these may be silly questions, but I can’t seem to remember exactly what I did or how I used my time.

I am having trouble remembering what I did this past month. Or this last year. I’m glad I journal and meditate a lot, because those are the only two things that can help remind me what I did and stop time for just a microsecond. But beyond that, I can’t remember what I did last Tuesday at 2:30pm. Even the big moments from this past year that I do remember don’t seem to be so big or important in hindsight. I realize that I’m having trouble becoming aware of what my life was or looked like, and I can’t seem to find the solution to being 100% present in this moment. 

Time is flying by so quickly, and I am barely able to grab it to tell it to pause for just a moment.

The carousel keeps turning.

I am guilty of taking my time for granted, but I have a feeling I’m not the only one who’s guilty of this.

With modern medicine advancements, our life-expectancy has increased. We could live into our late 90s and reach 100-years-old. We have time.

When we don’t get something important done for the day, we tell ourselves, “I’ll do it tomorrow.” I have time.

We procrastinate, because we have time.

We don’t work out or eat healthy because we can always take care of our health later. We have time.

But tragedy happens with no warning. We don’t get to have an alarm go off on our phones when there’s only 24 hours left in our lives.

Tragedy doesn’t discriminate. It has no concept of time.

We think time is on our side when it has NEVER been on our side. In reality, time has existed for billions of years, and it’s not going to end. We are a tiny speckle in the grand scheme of time.

With these thoughts in my mind, I ask myself, “Natalie, are you satisfied with how you used your time today?”

I’m not. I -someone whose life was not taken away today- did not accomplish my most important tasks for the day.

WHAT THE HECK AM I DOING??

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The world seems to be becoming a scarier place. I can’t think of going to a concert or any public crowded place without thinking of something bad happening to me. With the negativity of the news speaking louder than the positivity and the goodness that is in the world, it is very easy to believe that the world is more evil than good. But it isn’t.

The essence of all that lives is good.

Now, I am going to be honest with you. I don’t watch the news much. I know what is happening in the world (my head is not buried deep in the ground), but at the same time, I don’t dwell on the news. If I did, I wouldn’t be able to accomplish anything. Everything is too painful, and I could discuss politics and grapple with it for hours. But nowadays, it is important for me to get my work done, because I don’t know if I have a tomorrow.

In the face of personal challenges or horrific massive tragedies I see on the news, I always come back to a passage from my favorite movie said by the beloved Robin Williams. In the movie Dead Poets Society, Williams’ character said to his students: “The powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?"

This quote always seems to bring me back. It centers me from wherever my mind may have been floating in a sea of thoughts.

“That the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?"

 What will my verse be?

I believe I have started writing my verse. This past year, I published two books: The Miracle Morning for College Students and The Miracle Morning for College Students Companion Planner. I wrote these books with my heroes Hal Elrod and Honorée Corder.

My mission in life is to help people (especially students) find their purpose and help them design and live the life of their dreams. During my time in high school and college, I struggled with my mental health. I struggled with understanding my place in the world. I struggled with my academics and understanding my self-worth. But I am grateful that through this struggle, I found my purpose, and that I took action on it to help students achieve in their personal and academic lives, during and after college. Having this mission gives me a sense of urgency in using my time wisely and being intentional with my actions each day. I still find myself having days where I take my time for granted, but they are becoming limited as my dreams to help students gets bigger and bigger.

So…

If no one is promised a tomorrow,

And you have a dream you’ve always wanted to go after,

Why aren’t you going after it? Why aren’t you doing that right now?!

Tragedies like what happened in Vegas can be used in our lives in one of two ways:

1) We could let fear infiltrate our hearts and paralyze us, or

2) We could use it as a reminder that our life is short, and that we must do everything we can today to leave the world having added our verse.

No matter how long it takes or how difficult it is, please find your verse. It will ensure that no matter when your time on Earth is up, that you lived a full life. If you add meaning to your life by using your existence to leave the world better than how you found it in your own unique way, then you will have contributed your verse.

No matter when your time goes up, you will be satisfied and at peace.

Our lives are precious. Find your unique verse. Act in alignment with it. Go to bed each night feeling satisfied that you did your very best today. You can’t afford not to.

My interview with Reyna gives you a glimpse into my life and how I have begun to write my verse. I hope you enjoy it, and I hope it inspires you. My prayers are with those who lost their lives in the Vegas tragedy, but my prayers are also with you, the living. Live a full life today, and for all the days gifted to you.

Gratefully yours,

Natalie Janji