Of all the resources that are available to us on Earth, time is arguably the most abundant yet least understood resource we have.
The former comes from the general perception that we have a nearly infinite amount of it, especially when we're very young.
The latter comes about when we grow a bit older and realize that there's a huge gap between what we want to do and the time available to do it.
It's like an evolutionary journey, which can be pictured as a non-linear graph, the plotted line being our understanding of time's value, the:
- Y-axis: Our perception of time's scarcity.
- X-axis: The passage of our life.
At this point in my journey, I think I'm somewhere around the middle. Time isn't as plentiful as it once seemed.
It's now a resource that feels both precious and perpetually scarce, depending on how I choose to view it.
Some days, I want to be a bit too realistic and see time as perpetually scarce, cultivate a good dose of a sense of urgency with everything I do.
But how sustainable will that be in the long run? By going fast, I may go very far but that'll be a very solo journey with a very narrow lens of vision, missing out on the richness of life's tapestry.
Besides, this also assumes that life is a straightforward line, which is usually not the case, in reality.
The Exchange Rate Of Time
I think just as we mine the Earth for minerals, we mine our time for money. This is an interesting observation I made recently, in that work, in its myriad forms, becomes our primary tool. And each hour we invest in our job (or entrepreneurial ventures) is an attempt to convert time into tangible wealth.
Of course, from a broader perspective, this process isn't just about financial gain per se, because it's also about creating value, impacting lives, and leaving a legacy beyond mere monetary wealth.
In that sense, time can also be pictured as a currency in the economy of life.
I prefer trading it for experiences, knowledge, relationships, but I understand the necessity of material wealth to sustain these pursuits, one way or another.
Being aware of this exchange rate or going further and understanding how it works is crucial.
The wealthy, in a way, are those who've learned to maximize the return on their time investment.
Now, as a miner, you have to do some prospecting and choose where to dig for the richest veins, otherwise you risk wasting your beloved time on unproductive endeavors.
What I'm saying is that we must prioritize which resource to utilize and strategize which resources to mine with precision.
Not all activities yield the same return.
On a macro view, I think our evolutionary relationship with time and money is a gateway to reflect on deeper philosophical questions about life's value. Are we merely mining our lives for material (and non-material) gains, or are we seeking something more profound?
Thanks for reading!! Share your thoughts below on the comments.