Future Time Is Distant Until It Catches Up to You
I was in a room on Clubhouse recently listening to others speaking. One of the speakers grabbed my attention, not for her thoughts on the topic but her assumptions on life. “I’m 30 and have lived half my life” was her comment.
Having surpassed the age of 60 I must say the idea of having lived beyond my due date was a bit of a surprise.
Then I took a breath and thought back to when I was 30. Yes, 60 years of age at that point seemed like a distant point that I’d have to be really old to reach. As that gap closed, I kept moving the concept of ‘really old’ further out.
Currently I have it around 120. I would have said 100, but my uncle claims people of that age are not old, they are senior-seniors.
It’s funny how we perceive time frames to be distant when we know they are going to come charging right up at us. How many times has December 31st seemed to be distant from January 1st, yet, it’s suddenly upon us?
I talked the other day in another room about how I don’t set goals as much as I set intentions of what I want to do. Goals imply deadlines that have to be put out at some distance to allow time to reach. Often when setting goals the multitude of steps to get there become lost
The other problem with a deadline is I then figure I have more time than I do to meet the deadline. When I set intentions and then take note of the steps to work toward the intention, then it becomes a progressive process instead of an arbitrary deadline.
It was interesting listening to someone else in the same room come on mic and start out that she’s all about goals and considers them to be very important. As she talked about goals I found her also talking about how sometimes she feels constrained by goals and prefers to go with intentions.
Seems like the goals mindset added some stress?
Like people being pushed to choose a niche to create in, I often find so called coaches and experts pushing people about goals. I think both puts unnecessary stress on people. I know, some people want to feel that stress to motivate themself. Great, go for it.
I can find enough things creating stress I don’t want, I’m not going to set myself up for more. Thank you muchly.
OH and I’m not making any predictions about the length of my life.
Shadowspub is a writer from Ontario, Canada. She writes on a variety of subjects as she pursues her passion for learning. She also writes on other platforms and enjoys creating books you use like journals, notebooks, coloring books etc.
NOTE: unless otherwise stated, all images are the author’s
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I like the way you think. Setting goals is probably my downfall considering the way you defined that as having a deadline. I don't like to think of having to be forced to do something. I like the inspired motivation Abraham Hicks talks about. It feels more freeing. 😁
I'm in my late 40's and know I have plenty more time before I return to my original energy state.
See you all on the other side. 😉😁😁
Wait! What you mean by original energy state....I hope it's not what I'm thinking bout loud....😂
Yes! Yes!! Yes!!! .... I would rather stick with intentions they are free and still encouraging.
My original energy state is when I give up this physical existence. There is no death. 😁😁
I've read some of Abraham Hicks.. has been some time since I have though.
It's funny how goals can be so daunting, yet intentions have that sense of us being in control of the outcome. In reality, we're in control of goals if we set them. The ways words impact us.
I see I am not the only one who has decided to choose intentions over goals, haha! A few months away from 50, I believe I have not yet reach halfway 😊😊 Still many more lands I trust I will conquer. I enjoyed this post, @shadowspub!
Yeah I always thought of 50 as more of a midway point in the life span. I guess in part as most of my grandparents lived long lives. The idea of life being over at 60 was really humorous. For many people life is starting anew as they transition into retirement and more freedom to pursue their own interests rather than employment.
Wonderful read @shadowspub :)
I'm in my thirties now, and when I think back on what I thought thirty was about 10 years ago... well I can have a proper laugh at myself! I thought I'd be old now, my days of wildness and excitement over. Why did I give myself a death sentence in my mind for such a young age, and for a timeframe so nearby?! Of course, I didn't know that ten years would slip through my hands so quickly. I'll be old when I'm in my 80's now I think, but I anticipate an extension at some point 😂
Your thoughts on goals are spot on from my POV! I like to set goals that are simple: for example, I currently have a goal to write for 2hr a day, for a year. Simple, all I have to do is... well, do it haha! I somewhat have a goal to lose a bit of weight, but it is motivated by the intention to be healthier. My intention to be kind to my body is what I focus on, as that is where I find progress and value- I think you could apply that to any number of situations!
Thank you to the team for this contest, and for sharing your take on the wotw! I am visiting from the one, the only, dreeeeeeeeemport (trumpet fanfare) 😁
You caught me when you said death sentence hahaha 😂😂😂 and that's so true....I like it with intentions though because goals kinda gives me heart attack hahaha 😂 scary especially when I don't meet up. What matters now is how far I have reached?...❤️
how far you reach and what path you want to take matters a lot. Setting the intention is pointing to the path. Then you decide the path (the how) to get to the destination (the intention)
it is really funny how we look at the future and future selves. Then we get to that point and remember how silly it seemed. I think that is what caught my attention with the young lady's comment, I could hear myself 30 years ago.
How's the 2 hours a day writing working out? Does the time spent writing comments count as part of the writing? Or do you mean pen to paper on other items?
I spend a lot of time reading posts and articles. I have an intention to spend more time reading books and note-making for future writing.
For my 2hr, my only requirements are that I am in front of a blank page of some sort, with the intention to fully focus on writing. Some days I sit and type, and retype 12 sentences, making almost no progress. Others, my fingers never stop moving and I write 1000+ words (I am a TERRIBLE typist, like 50wpm lol). I have very little writing discipline/ control over my creativity, so I hope to change that this year :) and errrr... maybe learn to type 😂 But no, comments do not count, although I value my time writing them for other reasons!
Everything I've read by you takes the reader on a journey through a part of history or a common human experience, I like that a lot :) Do you ever write fiction, or is non-fiction where you find all your inspiration? I have a great admiration for someone that can talk about history and make it interesting, THAT is one heck of a skill set- I wish there were more acknowledgement of light-hearted historians!
hehe... I am so glad that we have a nice diverse range of entries to the contest... and lovely people like you Grindan who write to the prompt and give so much of yourself in engagement too 💗 I am grading the last few now! I was supposed to do it this past weekend but got a bit sidelined... and I agree...maybe 80... or maybe 90 hahaha !LOLZ
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Intention over goals just screams the right words, peace surrounds one. In terms of achieving one's goal, you will have to strive, evading or most times confronting every problem encountered which drains one mentally, physically, and spiritually but still, we need our goals just as we should follow intentions too.
for some people goals are paramount. For others a goal that seems difficult to attain is enough to put them off. They haven't learned or are unwilling to realize that difficulties are meant to be gone over, under or around not just rerouted to skip that.
I'm gonna live forever
so your intention is to live forever? or your goal? Is there a difference?
btw, really glad that you're going to live forever.
Age is something we always try to calculate how far and how close we get to but it's really of no use. We do set goals but these goals only become tangible when we put our creator first.
We might set goals and meet up with them but that only happens because God wants it to and other times it doesn't too.
i came to the conclusion a long time ago that God gave us free will and intelligence to get on with doing what needs to be done. With or without her help.
You're absolutely right Shadows, we all have what it takes to do what we should and can do.
hehehe DreemPort brought me to you and blue today! how fun is that?!?!?!
and please make that prediction - I want you here til AT LEAST 120. and with Uncle Ken leading the way - you can make that happen! hahahahahaha
Lately - I'm feeling a lot like you. lots of stress - lots of goals... and needing to set intentions more!!!
that literally has been the mindset the last 2 days and its helped a lot!!!
you managed to get me, Blue and iwannabeme who I submitted her piece for since she had to be away when it was due. What are the odds of that overlap eh?
intentions building on completed intentions really does lead us to goals. It's just a gentler process that leads instead of drives.
Good man. Age is only a number and we can play with those!
We used to think 60 was old. It’s not, I turned 50 this year so perhaps 80 is old? No my parents are both 80 something and they don’t seem all that old, so 100? Nope more people live that long now, so 120? Let’s keep on going!
Age really is a mindset. I remembered my uncle bringing up the not allowing my grandmother to call herself old until she got to 100. I laughed at the time and said so when she got there did you let her. He said.. just on her birthday. She lived until 101.
Now he's almost 101 and still wont apply the word old to himself. He's a 'senior senior'
btw protip: ShadowsPub is a woman.
So sorry, I feel really bad now for getting that wrong 😖
naw, lots of people make that mistake. That is why I give a nudge to correct it.
Love the senior senior. Keeping a sense of humour is great. My late grandmother was like that and she made it to 98, always joking about it all. It helped keep her mind sharp.
I loved this, Shadows. What a great take on the prompt! I really like the idea of setting intentions instead of goals. In the Corporate environment, it is always about setting S.M.A.R.T. goals, and I get it... they have to make profits and if listed, are answerable to the public, so they need to have guiding metrics that suit that world. But in our personal lives, intentions are far more meaningful. I think they allow ideas to emerge, develop, and breathe. They give us the space we need to remain interested in what we are doing, maintain a balanced life, and retain joy. Thank you for this awesome entry. Personally, I loved it! I got to this post a little late so... tipping instead 💗
