There is something to be said to the 1962 Byrd’s classic Turn, Turn, Turn (to everything there is a season)—a song adapted from the Book of Ecclesiastes. To my amazement, I have been singing the wrong lyrics for many years, in place of turn, I have been unknowingly using time, time, time. However, isn’t it ultimately the same-- for every time, there is a turn, for everything in your life?
When researching the word turn I found it to have over 68 meanings or uses, but what stood out to me most was:
to direct or set one's course toward, away from or in a particular direction.
a time or opportunity for action which comes in due rotation or order to each of a number of persons, animals, etc.
I guess ‘turn’ and ‘time’ are indeed synonymous in some respects and I will continue to sing my own version of this song in glee...I absolutely love being right. So what does all this mean and why do I feel compelled to give you this useless/ful (however you take it) knowledge?
In the past three-years I have lived in three countries and 5 cities; lost a job to developing a fantastic career; almost homeless to a home above city lights; scraping change for a $1 chicken sandwich to eating Sea bass in a Michelin star restaurant. This all coming from a woman that shy of 7 years ago had it all (as some would say) a husband, nice home, good job and stability. However during a painful separation, I decided to move across country to London to drop everything I ever knew, leaving the US and the pain behind to pursue my Master’s degree and a live abroad. Who would have known I would gain so much so late in life but in perfect time.
Through the last six years I learned some of the most important lessons in life; but the first, most important and comforting lesson of those -- knowing when to recognize my time. It was an epiphany one Saturday morning while stretching in a complicated yoga pose empty and full of thought at the same time. I wondered how I could be so relaxed in a time when I should feel so stressed, physically and mentally, when all I had to do was mediate and breathe. Time has a purpose and a place for everything’s turn.
People overwhelmed with dilemma, can’t see through tears and the fears. However, just as a person drowning or a bumble bee flying, physics has proven both to be impossible. Why is that, naturally the weight of our bodies against that of water positions us to float, if we just relax and breathe—hence my success with yoga. However in panic mode, we flip and flap, scream, yell, inhale and swallow until our lungs are full and our passage ways are blocked. When you are in a situation, we usually switch into panic mode, kick, scream, cry, whine and whimper. Woe is me in sorrow and anxiety so much so until our minds are filled with despair and our emotions uncontrollably out of sync. However, if we just breathe, relax and allow ourselves to go with the flow, we will find that we naturally float. I would say we are better taking on the bumble bee perspective and just fly even though our bodies are seemingly too heavy for our wings. People tell you it is impossible, but take on an attitude of nonchalant and go for it anyway. What’s the worst that could happen?
Recently, I was watching the new season of Project runway, one of my favourite contestants was eliminated on a technicality and although his fellow cast mates were in tears and disbelief that he amongst some of the others would be eliminated during this task, he took time to console them with encouraging words and naturally positive spirit. But what was most memorable for me was his exit line; you know the one they do while they are packing their sewing tools in a dark cutting room, “I didn’t need to stay [here] till the end to do what I had to do”. Bing! Another light bulb moment, our time is precious, and our lives are not our own.
We exist to:
- do something for that moment
- help someone in that time
- build something in that season
- and make the world a better place
After your task is complete, your time is up and it is on to the next life assignment. Sounds a bit like the Bureau Adjustment but what can I say.
So I know this may sound a little cliché to some and the perfect aha moment to others. And for the rest of us, it is healthy food for thought. Why did he leave? Why is this client such a pain? Why do I hate my job? Why have I not found my destiny? Just breath, relax, write it down, work towards it and go with the flow. It's simply not time.
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