Today the clocks go back an hour signifying the changing seasons and oncoming winter. For some, today is filled with dread – dark mornings, cold weather and the desire to stay inside. For others it is a time for excitement – winter sports, the festive season approaching or a time to catch your breath and hibernate. How did you feel about it? Maybe you were just happy to get an extra hour in bed – I wouldn’t blame you!
Every year at this time I always think about what a bonus that extra hour is. What will I do with it? Is there something I’ve been desperately wanting to do but never found the time because today of all days I now have it.
This year my 13 week old puppy had different ideas. For him it was still the same time to wake up and play. He was hungry so it must be breakfast time. Try explaining to a puppy “well actually the clocks have gone back to yes we can play tug of war but in an hour’s time”.
This got me thinking about time and how precious the concept of one more hour is. When we are children all we want is one more minute in the play park or playing with friends. When we are on holiday what most of us wouldn’t do to have just one more minute lying in the sun or skiing in the alps. When someone we love is dying we would go to the ends of the earth for just one more minute of their company.
So today we have an hour, 60 whole minutes…what are you going to do with it?
Written by Julia Donald, CBT Psychotherapist at Cognitive Vitality Psychotherapy Inverness.