“Life’s like an hourglass glued to the table.”
– Breathe by Anna Nalik
One of the reasons that I don’t regret the impulsive purchases I’ve made over the past few years is because I can always make more money. I’ve had lean times and times where I’ve been flush with cash. It’s a part of life, so I accept that.
Yet it dawned on me while I was sitting by the river this afternoon that, in exchange for the money I used to buy those items, I exchanged something even more precious: my life.
I’m not sure how I feel about that revelation but it’s a very important concept that we need to understand. We only have one life. Do we want to spend it chasing useless things, or do we want to spend it elsewhere?
8 responses to “The hourglass is glued to the table”
I’ve always known that time is a precious thing which is why I’m always so grateful when someone decides to spend their time with me. It is time that can never be regained… therefore it is priceless. Somehow, no one ever views it like that. Amazing.
It is amazing that we don’t realize that. And just think: we routinely trade those irreplaceable hours of our life for stuff we use once and toss. I’m still digesting that.
Yep. Exactly, Annie.
And then the “life” spent after buying the thing….cleaning, maintaining, feeling guilty, getting rid of the thing and on and on……whew!
The guilt!!! Omg! When it hits, it hits HARD!
Same question is answered in Your Money or Your Life, a book by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez: https://files.addictbooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Your-Money-or-Your-Life.pdf
Thank you, Theresa!
The question isn’t limited to objects or events, but other factors of life. What is really worth your finite time?
That’s very true. I’ve been thinking about that a lot lately.