There I was happily traversing the path of life — celebrating the ups and somehow negotiating the downs. Life has been kind, but tiring! I never knew that, at times, living a life itself is so much work.

Suddenly, I realized someone has been walking alongside me — since the very first day, and through each phase of my life. I stopped to talk to him, yet he continued to move!

I turned to him and asked, “Who are you?”. He replied in very few words, “Time I am!”

I. What is Time?

I was confused and wanted to digest, yet he did not pause. Trying to match pace with him, I asked, “But what is Time actually? Have I ever come across you?”

“Yes you have ! I was there when you were born, and I will be there when you die.

I am everything around you that keeps moving — I am the Sun that never fails to rise, or the wind that keeps blowing, the clock that keeps ticking, or your heart that keeps beating.

II. What does Time do?

I was intrigued to know more and asked, “But what exactly does Time do?”

I keep moving and ensure everyone moves with me! Often I make life easy for you, while at times I make it a little complicated.

I am the one that make people shine and I am the one that make them fall too! The same person can be a success and a failure at different times in his/her life. Hence, success and failure are nothing but an outcome of time itself.

III. Why do you do that — i.e. make life difficult for us?

“But why do you make things difficult for us? Wouldn’t life be so much better without all the hardships?”

He smiled and said, “How would you learn otherwise?”

It is the purpose of our life to be able to learn how to accept all life situations with equal grace and gratitude — irrespective of how hard or easy they might be.

Throughout your life, I ensure I give you multiple opportunities to learn that — through cycles of easy and difficult times. Those who understand this consider me more as a friend than an enemy, and forever achieve peace at heart.”

IV. What about those who do not move along with time?

I continued to ask and he continued to reply, “What if I do not move with you?”.

I have a plan for you, which is much more beautiful and much more fulfilling than what you plan for yourself. How will it materialize if you do not move with me?

Those who do not keep pace with me, stay in the past. Those who try to outpace me stay too much in the future. In either case, you will struggle.

Just keep pace with me, and there are beautiful memories we shall make. Have you ever created any beautiful memory by doing nothing?

IV. Does time ever stops?

I had all my answers, and the silent monk is a bit more enlightened now. Yet I chuckled and asked a final stupid question, “Will you ever stop even for once?”

“Does the world ever stop?

I will pause if the entire mankind stops even for a second.”

I guess he is right. May be we are the ones who keep moving, and eventually blame it on Time.

Time flies way too fast when we are busy chasing something. But when our mind is calm and still and at peace — time sure does slow down and comes sit by our side.

And just like that, “Time” vanished out of my sight. Yet I could see the sun rising, the wind blowing, the clock ticking and the heart beating — and then there he is all along with us throughout our journey of life!

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