Learning to value time is one of life's most important lessons.
We can think about the past and anticipate the future but life happens in the in-between.
We can appreciate the moment by slowing down and taking a moment to pause between stimulus and response - paying attention to our breath, clearing our mind and relaxing our body.
No one can take away our ability to choose our attitude in any situation, however in order for us to choose our attitude we need to give ourselves some time.
In his book, "The Tipping Point How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference"
, Malcolm Gladwell describes a study done by two Princeton psychologists inspired by the biblical story of the Good Samaritan. The study involved seminary students and determining which of them would stop to help a person in distress. The single most important factor was whether or not the students believed they could take the time to help another human being. Some of them literally stepped over the person in distress while hurrying on their way to give a talk on the Good Samaritan. The moral of the story? Slow down - 99% of the time whatever it is you think is driving you to rush about, can wait. Give yourself some time to pause and reflect - even if just for a moment.
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"Everything can be taken from a person but ... the last of the human freedoms - to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way." Victor Frankl
"Take more time, cover less ground."- Thomas Merton
