By Arjit Sethi
Time is one of the most precious commodities that human beings have. However, they often fail to realize its importance. One of the many weaknesses of which man must be aware of is procrastination or putting off things, that can be done today, till a later date. There is some natural inertia in man which makes him lethargic. He knows he must work but he does not want to unless he is goaded, and very often leaves things where they are. If it does not affect him personally, he does not act immediately. He would rather bask in idleness. To make him work and act, many incentives are offered.
In this context, the adage that Time and Tide Wait for None is very much applicable in todays world. It is even more so with the advance of technology that keeps everyone on their toes. In this jet-age or the supersonic-age, everything takes place at a speed which the ancients would never have dreamt of. Time and tide are natural phenomena, which are beyond the control of human beings. Man cannot change their course and is helpless before them. Time goes on passing without any consideration for any individual. Similarly, tide on the sea too has no regard for anybody or anything. Time and tide symbolize valuable opportunity. The essence of the proverb is that opportunities do not wait for anyone. No one can command or foretell their occurrence or recurrence. An opportunity missed once is missed forever. Therefore, one should be alert and cautious because opportunities are generally short-lived, occur without any notice and pass quickly and no one can say whether or when they would come again. So one should be fully prepared to make the best use of an opportunity as and when it presents itself.
Life is short and yet man spends it like a prodigal, as if it were eternal, and he immortal. Most of us do not understand the value of time, the most valuable gift from God. Time is running fast. Yesterday will never come again. Even this moment, when I am writing these lines, will never come again. Time is an opportunity. If time will not come again, it means the opportunity will not come again. It is, therefore, necessary that one should grasp the opportunity as it comes. Even the slightest carelessness on our part may result in missing a great opportunity in life, resulting in a colossal loss. No amount of repentance would compensate the loss caused by such a failure. Time is impersonal. It does not matter to it if a certain individual fails to make use of an opportunity offered by it. It is because of this aspect of time, that wise men are always prepared to act with full vigor when time comes. They never postpone things.
The above-mentioned proverb regarding time is a lesson to all of us. It lays emphasis on the desirability of our preparedness to make the best use of an opportunity that presents itself to us. We should, therefore, remain vigilant, because if we fail to make appropriate use of an opportunity when it presents itself, we will have to face severe consequences. It also implies that opportunities are rare. No one can create them. They come of their own. Those who are ready are able to take advantage of them, but lazy people let them slip. If man takes care of his minutes, then the hours and days will take care of themselves. Time is more precious than money and is universal and eternal. We all grow in time, live in time and ultimately perish in time. Time may not be defined exactly, but we all know how valuable it is.
Our life is like a bubble, and therefore, we should take good care of it and make the best use of it. We all want fame, success, happiness, and prosperity, but only a few are able to achieve this because only they make the best use of their time. Time and tide wait for none. They cannot be commanded. They are to be used in the best possible manner. Time once lost can never be recovered. It is ceaseless and eternal and we all are like small, insignificant and helpless particles in this endless and continuous flow. It is more powerful than the most powerful monarchs, princes, and rulers. People come and go, but time is forever, eternal, without an end, without any beginning. Time is creation, birth, growth, ageing, decay and also death. Nothing escapes time. Time is abstract, but its footprints are concrete and palpable. Time may be spent wisely or foolishly. The choice is ours and so are its consequences. It is the basic building block that goes in making our success, career, happiness, and status in society.
Arjit Sethi did his schooling from DPS R.K.Puram. Currently, he is a student member of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. He represented his school and received the Gobartimes Award from Mrs. Sheila Dixit. He also secured the School Rank 1 in the International Mathematics Olympiad. He belongs to New Delhi and has a great fondness for the street food as most of the Delhiites, and is addicted to soccer. The best thing he likes about himself is his punctuality. He is extremely attracted to the Indian Bureaucracy and has a great desire to be its part one day.