If you could travel back in time in your life, would you?
I pondered this question after viewing “About Time,” a film about a gentleman named Tim who finds out the men in his family have the peculiar ability to travel back in time, but only within the bounds of their own life and moments. After the events of the picture, Tim ultimately comes to the realization that he would rather not travel in time and simply decides to live each day fully, relishing every moment. I love this movie, and not just because I’m in love with Rachel McAdams, but because it has numerous implications for my life.
“And in the end I think I've learned the final lesson from my travels in time; and I've even gone one step further than my father did: The truth is I now don't travel back at all, not even for the day, I just try to live every day as if I've deliberately come back to this one day, to enjoy it, as if it was the full final day of my extraordinary, ordinary life.”
There was a point in my life where I would gladly say yes to that question, I would love to travel back in my life, to escape the worries of today or relive an exciting moment in my life. At this time it felt as if I merely existed as opposed to actually living. I was attending my hometown’s small college and working at the Chick-Fil-A down the road. Most of my friends had moved to different cities and states for college, including my girlfriend. I would walk to class, then go to work for a couple hours and then go back home. I existed; my life was simply a routine, and I had chosen not to see any real joy in it. Truth is, I was missing out on key moments during the day because I felt like there was something missing in my life. I wanted to travel somewhere, to meet new people; I wanted my life to be extraordinary. While wanderlust and wanting to meet new people are great desires to have, I believe these longings can often blind us from the moments today has for us. I came across various people at school and work that I could have possibly started friendships with then, but I never tried because I was so caught up with the idea that my life was inadequate. Every day I was missing out on what I was meant to do there with the people around me.
Today, I would answer the question with a no; I would not travel back in my life, because today, the ordinary, is all I need. Though there are many things I want to experience, and various places I would like to see, every day has its own exciting moments to encounter. An ordinary day in my life this summer consists of attending my summer classes, going to work at the clinic, and then going home to study. However, every day I strive to see what I am meant to do today. Often it can be as simple as striking up a conversation with a client at work, listening, and connecting with them. There is beauty in the ordinary if we just stop and acknowledge it. People around you can impact your day if you let them and likewise you can impact theirs if you’re attentive. Today, instead of rushing out of Starbucks, why don’t you ask your barista how their day is going? Today, instead of dreading how early you're waking up, why don’t you listen to a good song, look up, and appreciate the splendor of this blue planet? Today, instead of worrying, don’t.
Today, instead wishing for more, live an extraordinary, ordinary life.
