Time Flies… and Sometimes I Want a Refund

Welcome to Still Waters — a quiet space for your overwhelmed soul and I am so glad you’re here. It’s a weekly breath. A gentle pause. A calm harbor in the chaos. Whether you're juggling parenting, battling burnout, or just trying to stay grounded in a noisy world, this space is for you.

Photo by Immo Wegmann on Unsplash

Time.

We need to enjoy it every day. As we get older, we often wish we had more of it.

As kids, time felt slow especially during summer.

Why?

Because we didn’t have routines or many responsibilities. We woke up when we wanted and played outside until the sun went down. (If you were a kid in the ’90s, you know what I mean!)

I grew up in Washington State. In the summer, the sun set around 9:30 p.m. My friends and I played basketball until it got too dark to see the hoop.

Sometimes we turned on the garage lights just to keep playing. There were times where I got pegged in the face…ouch!

But as we moved from teen to adult, time started to feel limited. People often say, “Manage your time wisely.” And they’re right. I

Now, as someone with a full-time job and raising a child, I juggle a lot. But I’ve learned to be more careful with my time. Er…more like meticulous with my time. I’ve started asking myself WHO and WHAT I give my time to. There will be days where I catch myself in the middle of tasks and it’s exhausting.

Sure, I still want lazy days where I do nothing. And that’s okay.

When I look at my child, I see how little they think about time. Meanwhile, I’m doing dishes, folding laundry, and trying to stay present. Some weekends feel like they vanish in a blink. My to-do list keeps growing.

But you know what?

I’m glad I noticed this. I take time to pause and reflect. Life is moving in a good direction. I’m healthy. I’m financially stable. And I’m finally taking care of my mental health.

I look at my child and see how much they live in the moment. And that is important. It’s a gentle reminder to really count your blessings.

Here are a few things I’ve learned about time:

• Enjoy the small moments. You won’t get them back. A little laugh can lift you up on a hard day.

• Pick your battles, especially with friends and family. Some things aren’t worth your time. Let the small stuff go.

• Try planning your week ahead. Focus on the big things first. It can help lower your stress.

• You don’t have to do it all in one day. How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Break big tasks into small steps.

Looking back, there’s no perfect way to make the most of your time. Everyone’s life is different. But one thing’s true: time keeps moving. It doesn’t wait for anyone.

So savor each moment while you can.