We always think we have more time than we do…that our parents won’t grow old, our children won’t grow up and that tomorrow is a given. Our “life clock” is continuously ticking and as we grow older the tick-tock of the clock grows louder.
Age wakes us up to the reality that our time is limited. We realize that we might not achieve many of the dreams or goals we wanted to achieve in our lifetime, but what gives us peace is the possibility that our children can still achieve theirs.
Robert Frost knew all of this so well when he wrote “Nothing Gold Can Stay.” In five short sentences, Mr. Frost was able to wrap up the hard reality of life…beauty fades, love dies and the innocence we are all born with gets lost to the world.
Nothing Gold Can Stay
Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay.
Robert Frost (1874-1963)
No, Mr. Frost isn’t talking about autumn and all her glorious colors. Instead he is talking to us about life and aging and how we can’t hold onto anything forever – we must accept the seasons of our life as they come.
What they don’t tell you when you are young is that you don’t have as much time as you think you do. You’re going to feel more pain than you thought you would. You’re going to love deeply and yet lose someone you love. You’re going to have years of peace and prosperity but you’ll also have years of hardship and heartache.
Like the trees that bloom and then fade away and then bloom again …life is going to take you on one wild, colorful, beautiful and sometimes painful ride. The secret is to hear the tick-tock of your life clock sooner rather than later.
Understand that your minutes are not infinite… so step up to the challenge, take the adventures, be bold, be brave, sing loud, walk in the rain, love with unlimited passion, ride the big waves, dive the deep waters and read some poetry, so when someone gives you a nod and a wink and whispers, “stay golden pony boy”… you’ll know the hard but beautiful truth…nothing gold can stay.
By Teresa McIntosh-Hall is a writer, blogger and social worker who hears the tick tock of her clock.
Great writing. A few years ago I started using my set of china (I had gotten as a wedding gift) for every day. There is NOTHING I am saving any more. Good clothes are worn. Candles are burned daily. I wear my diamonds. And there is no adventure that I postponed. All done. When I’m gone, my children will not be burdened with my debt. Momentos have notes attached explaining their history. So now…..my final years are relatively stress free! It was a wild ride!
Far and away your best written piece. Good job.
Wow. Thanks brother. Interesting that you think so because I almost didn’t put this one on my blog. I told Jeff I didn’t think it was any good. He said it was so I put it up. It took me 10 minutes to write. Maybe I need to just write more from the heart than the head.
Absolutely love this. Life is sure going by so fast. Our kids have grown up in a blink of an eye. We have to treasure our time here. You never know when your time is up. 💖
I am glad you liked it Kathy. Life is going by quickly. I didn’t really notice how fast until I turned 50. Let’s enjoy the time we have. Lunch soon! Have a great thanksgiving!
Long time supporter, and thought I’d drop a comment.
Your wordpress site is very sleek – hope you don’t mind
me asking what theme you’re using? (and don’t mind if
I steal it? :P)
I just launched my site –also built in wordpress like yours– but the theme slows (!) the site down quite a bit.
In case you have a minute, you can find it by searching for “royal cbd” on Google (would appreciate any feedback) – it’s still in the works.
Keep up the good work– and hope you all take care of yourself during the coronavirus scare!