There is a thief amongst us. But she is no ordinary swindler.

She confiscates quite easily, almost magically, as if it’s as simple as breathing.

How easily we turn our backs to her, forsaking what is precious. And just like that…it’s gone. Taken. Never to be seen from again. Rich in gold, she is, from our indifference and detachment.

So how does she manage to smuggle what’s right under our noses?

Simple.

We let her. Willingly. In so many different ways.

By…Succumbing to what is easy by way of lethargy and/or apathy. Worrying unnecessarily about things we cannot control. By allowing those people in our lives, that I call energy vampires, to infiltrate and suck us dry! Finding meaningless tasks to appear busy only to ignore what is crucial. And yes, binging on Netflix.

Guilty am I to all of the above. On more than one occasion. And what do I have to show for it? Really, that’s a rhetorical question, but all one has to do is blink and then it’s the middle of October. I stop to look in the mirror and don’t recognize that 25 year old staring out from behind my aging eyes.

Where did it all go?

I know that age is just a number. I’m old to a teenager but young in the eyes of my parent’s generation. But the truth lies in the fact that we all have our own hourglass. Some contain more sand than others. None of us know the quantity, but we all seem to live like there’s an overabundance. And because of this misconception we become so very wasteful. Then it’s gone. Poof!

It's a constant reminder that somewhere a clock is ticking.

Original Posting - sometime in 2014: This is one of my earlier pieces from when I started this kind of work. I have to laugh at the concept as it is as true now as it was then. Yesterday was a trying day. I realize as I creep into middle age that means the elders in my life are nearing the finishing line. One is never ready for the inevitable. While I hope we still have plenty of time, we never know when that light switch sets the stage to dark. Every day is precious. Those I care about are precious.

If this last year as taught me anything, it's to cherish what's important in both the people that I choose to surround myself with, what I want to achieve, see and be in this life. I don't want to end up like the Pink Floyd song thinking -

Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun

Every day has a starting gun. I must not forget that!