DOES TIME REALLY EXIST IN A TROPICAL
PARADISE?
by Wanda Veloz
Time ... Loved by some and hated by others. Some take full advantage of it by doing all the things that they want to do, while others
simply watch it pass by, feeling powerless in face of their inability to control it, to stop it or to be able to take advantage of it as they
wish. For me, time may well be no more than an illusion. Our concept of it is determined by how we perceive it. There are people for
whom the day should have more than 24 hours, they say, because there isn’t enough time. Others do so many things in a day that
you see them and you marvel at everything they manage to get done.
Personally, time mostly escapes me. I start doing something and before I know it, the whole morning has gone by without even
realizing it. For me, time has accelerated. What I thought took too long to arrive before, now I feel that it comes and goes by way too
fast. I don’t know if it’s due to aging or what. However, if you give me 5 hours, I’ll fill them up with anything, including silences.
Today's world has a frantic pace, as if it were trying to catch the time that’s flying by. Personally, I try to be organized with my time:
I tend to make lists of the things I want to get done in any given day; that way I try to use the time I have the best way possible.
However, I must admit that I don’t use a watch; at this point I don’t even own one!. Despite my organization and structure, I recognize
that I allow myself to get carried away by time. I fulfill my commitments at the time I say I will because I like to be punctual, but at
the same time I allow myself flexibility and freedom. The silly tic-toc (as it was called in a book I read that I loved), doesn’t control
me.
In truth, I believe that I´ve grown up in a country and a culture in which time is more of a suggestion and not an iron-clad mandate.
Dominicans are very special when it comes to time. For those looking at us from the outside, you probably think that Dominicans are
unpunctual. And well, we can or might be, I won’t deny it. But why go rushing from one place to another frantically, when we can
enjoy the ride? We set our own pace. If a Dominican invites you to get together at 3:00 pm, chances are that it means people can
start arriving at that time, but most people will actually get there after 4:00 pm. And of course, once together, the party begins and
lasts until the last person leaves.
We enjoy life here. We take time to work the same way we take time to relax, for beach time, bonche time (meaning party), time
to sleep, and of course, time to eat, drink and simply enjoy life. We give ourselves a lot of time. But well, with all heat and traffic
jams, why put more pressure on ourselves by holding on to time?
Since we live in time, why not associate with it; play with it and even laugh at it a little? Stare time in the face and invite it to go have
a drink, or to eat a delicious meal, or maybe take it to the beach for a tan.
Don’t worry so much about measuring time; instead fill the spaces it contains with those things that bring joy to your heart and elevate
you above the daily circumstances of your life. The here and now is what exists. Leave yesterday where it stayed (you can enjoy
visiting it from time to time) and don´t worry so much about the future, that never really gets here. So, why so much stress due to a
silly tic-tac? Today, now, at this time; that’s what life’s truly about.
Love and Respect.
LifeGrid® Local Editor - Santo Domingo
August 2017
LifeGrid Magazine | LifeGrid.com.au
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