Time is a universal constraint outside of every human being’s control. No one is able to change the simple truth that there are 24 hours in each day. Every life is given a limited amount of time on this earth. Time is something that will never be returned into our possession. Once a moment has passed, we will never be able to get that moment back.
Therefore, the decision of what to do with the time given to a person in their lifetime should be an important, conscious choice each day. Although time is limited, it is a precious gift that every human possesses. The amount of time you have to give is not affected by location, social status, or wealth. Even those that have less than nothing in life can still give of their time.
When you stop to give your time to someone, there are infinite possible positive outcomes. When you give a minute of your time to give a hug, you could make someone’s day. When you pause in the hallway to explain a concept to a classmate for a few minutes, you might be saving their test grade. When you take the extra moment to ask someone how they’re doing or if they’re okay, you have the potential to turn around their day, making your given extra moment worthwhile.
Especially as students who might not be able to give significant monetary gifts or extensively educated contributions, time becomes the greatest gifts we can give to our teachers, friends, and family. Call to mind how you feel when someone sits down next to you to listen to you, or stops what they’re doing to invest in what you have to say. Usually, it makes you feel loved, cared for, and relaxed. When you understand how much of a difference it makes when someone else gives their time for you, you can understand the impact made when you pour your time into other people’s lives.
It may be true that we all have “time,” but in our busy lives it’s hard to believe that we have enough to be giving it away. That is when those practiced in time management gain an advantage, because they have a better grasp of the use of their time. When your moments are intentionally focused on the task, problem, or experience in the present, your future moments can be spent intentionally giving your time to others.
So, as you walk through the next few hours, days, and weeks, pay close attention to how you are spending your time. Think about how you might learn to reallocate your time so that you can give it to others. It may look like stopping in the hallway, sitting down for coffee, staying at the dinner table, or being present for an experience with friends. No matter what the specifics are, learn to find the great joy in giving of your time generously.
By Elisabeth Halberstadt ‘27, Co-Editor-in-Chief
