The gift of time

It was one of those holidays that had been pushed back because of travel restrictions.  We were supposed to start the Otago Rail Trail in late November last year but traveling wasn't a possibility then.  We felt sorry for the people organising our trip as they had to cancel everything and rebook it based on our end of March 2022 plans.  Then it had seemed so far away.  Now that we've completed the 150 km journey, I keep looking back on it because it wasn't your regular family holiday.

The purpose of the holiday was to celebrate our daughter's graduation.  She had completed a degree in Computational Intelligence, a skill that's in demand and will only continue to grow in demand over time.  It's a fancy way of saying she can do all manner of things with data so that it tells a story.  I'm extremely proud of her and in awe of her skills.  So this holiday was our gift to her to say congratulations and well done.  We gave her our time as a family to acknowledge all her work and achievements.   

Over the 150 km's we traveled, I needed to have one business meeting.   I was a little unsure about interrupting the holiday for work but I am now pleased I did.  Talking to this fantastic CEO about an opportunity to work with his organisation, I shared that I was on holiday and that the purpose of it was to acknowledge Renee's achievements in her studies.  He said he was impressed with us giving her the gift of our time.  And by implication, the gift of time rather than something we purchased for her.  I've reflected on those words ever since.  They've crossed over with a book I read recently, 'Four Thousand Weeks' by Oliver Burkeman.  This amazing book is all about how we use our four thousand weeks (an average lifetime) on this planet and in it, Burkeman says this 'Attention, on the other hand, just is life: your experience of being alive consists of nothing other than the sum of everything to which you pay attention.  At the end of your life, looking back, whatever compelled your attention from moment to moment is simply what your life will have been.'  The profound nature of Burkeman's book and also having our gift of time acknowledged in conversation with someone who is deeply connected to his identity and his organisation, has made me reflect deeply on what I need to do to keep building the sum of my life.  

When I am an old woman sitting in my rocking chair with the people I love around me, I want to think that I gifted my time to them in the best possible way and that I am at peace. 

Where will you give your next 'gift of time'?

Arohanui