time... is it an illusion?

It's funny. Some of us were talking about "time" just recently at the pottery studio. We talked about how we wanted or felt we needed to spend the time we had left. Most of us (but not all) are now retired and living the life... of the *paycheck-less*. 

This of course has it's advantages and disadvantages. For those who are lucky enough to have both time and money, there are more options. But the majority seem to now have the time... but the money - although sufficient - is not enough for world travel nor to open the door to endless possibilities. So, perhaps in some ways, this is a blessing. Less options simplify life. 

And simplifying leads to prioritizing... just what IS important and what is not?  What dreams might still be attained and which should be cast aside in favor of something else? 

For me *creating* is important - it fulfills me for whatever reason. Time to do this is extremely precious to me.  Whether it be writing, sketching, watercolor, pottery, quilting.... etc. it fills a void and adds to my contentment. 

And as I've said before, it really isn't the end product... but the process that does this. Why? I don't know. But I do know that it's different for everyone. What fills the void in you? 

And is time just an illusion? We divide the day into 24 hours, the weeks into days, and the months into weeks, etc. But that's just man's way of handling things. Time doesn't really *pass* as it were, it just *is*... and we pass through it. What we do as we pass through it is our choice.

I tend to be introverted... need time alone... and if it wasn't for family and friends, would possibly never socialize. And I know that socializing is important - to some extent. People need people. 

When I was growing up, my early perception of *being social* was that it was superficial and false. It seemed to me that small talk was meaningless, so why do it? In my young mind, there was an undercurrent of suspicion - that people didn't mean what they said, but had a hidden agenda. I chose to abandon that perception somewhere along the line and actively chose instead to always give people the benefit of the doubt. It made my life happier.

I've heard from people that moved South from up North that they had trouble adjusting to Southern Hospitality. It was good manners and courteous, but not always sincere. They said that up North people said what they meant. If you didn't like someone, you didn't pretend you did (which I guess Southern Hospitality over-rules). Interesting, yes? And of course I've also heard the opposite argument, that Northerners were downright rude...  all of this (IMO) stems partially from upbringing and perception. 


But back to questions about *Time*... 

Is time travel possible?
I think so.
Why?
Because we can think it. And I believe that if we can think it, it's probably do-able.
(DH would say that's not logical) non-the-less...

How about astral travel?
I believe in that too.

And vampires, magic, etc.?
Yes, yes, and probably yes... but sometimes it's a matter of semantics. By this time, you may be thinking, this gal is nuts! And that's OK too. Agreeing to disagree is perfectly acceptable in my book.

The thing is... communication is not infallible. If someone asks if I believe in God, I would certainly say "Yes"... but what I believe may be totally different from what you believe. And that's why when someone says they're an Atheist, I'm never sure that they mean what most people think they mean. Do you see? 

I just read a book given to me by a friend who's an avid reader and is constantly ordering from Amazon or frequenting the Half-Price Bookstores. She keeps me in books - all kinds! Anyway this was not a book I would have picked up on my own although I know it's a popular series. It's called "The Sookie Stackhouse Novels" and contains 3 books written by Charlene Harris. In it the *vampires* have *come-out* - meaning they no longer hide the fact that they're vampires. Apparently a synthetic blood was created which made it possible for them to live among humans without violence. Of course they are not totally accepted... and thus it goes. Also Sookie although human, is also a Telepath.... which means she can read minds. Because of this she is also aware of other *creatures/non-human species*? that exist, but have not *come out* as such. There are werewolves, shape-shifters, elves, etc. Sounds strange, but as I got into it, I soon realized that I appreciate Harris' imagination as much as I appreciated JK Rowlings' when she came out with Harry Potter. There's something absolutely amazing about the possibilities of our imaginations!

This preceding paragraph may not seem like it belongs here in my post about time... but it does. Reading is another way I spend my time. And although it may not be creative, it stretches my mind... it enables me to see things that I may not have seen otherwise. And it doesn't really matter if the book is fiction or non-fiction. I know there are people who don't read at all... and there are some that only read fiction or non-fiction. I read everything - well, not everything - but some of almost everything. I don't go for things that are too gory or too explicit - but that's just a matter of preference.

Going to close this with a comment about *family and friends*... which of course is another wonderful way to spend one's time. True, I'm not a very social person, but family and friends are the exception. How to explain... I mentioned that I believed reading stretches my mind ... well, family and friends stretch my heart. There's something about experiences that involve love that open up areas in one's heart and soul that never would have opened other-wise. And 'as our sun dips west', this bond becomes even more important.

And to my online friends (who I've never met and probably never will) you too are important to me. I love sharing your life through your posts. Love seeing the pictures you take and hearing what you think and feel. The Internet with all it's unpredictability and dangers does make the world smaller and friends more accessible... and possibly less lonely for many.  

I do belong to Facebook, but only go there to check in occasionally and pull pictures of family off to print.  And I've never understood the pull of Twitter... although I do like Pinterest (which my grand daughter got me on). It's actually an alternative to watching boring TV - I'll sit there in the evening and go through Pinterest to get ideas for quilting, pottery, etc. 

Enough!  Have a wonderful week and enjoy the Spring weather where-ever you may be...