A measure of time

October 18th, 2024

I left work earlier today than usual. It was only three and a half hours earlier and, actually, that was supposed to be my day off, but that is a different story… So I left earlier and on top of that my car was at the mechanic's, so I started walking. And after I got where I wanted to, I took care of what I wanted to, then I walked to another place and did what I was supposed to do there. Then I took a bus to visit my mom, had dinner, and went home. As I was walking home, I realized that if I stayed at work, I would only now be leaving to go home.

So I did all that in only three and a half hours, and all that without driving, but only walking and using public transportation. The weather was glorious, and I was enjoying being outside. Everything I did today after leaving work earlier I did at my slow and deliberate pace. I did a couple of things that I kept putting off and was very happy that, finally, I was able to get them done. If I stayed at work, those three and a half hours would just go past in the blink of an eye and I still wouldn't do what I wanted or was supposed to.

It would be the same three and a half hours, but there is a huge difference if I compare this same quantity of time spent dutifully at my work, with doing and enjoying my time outside of it. Same quantity of time, so much difference in feeling and living it when it is my time. If I don't have my own time, there is nothing else I can have.