Embracing the limits of time sets you free
This week, I decided to go for a sunset run in Ojai, hoping to get some trail time in and, you know, find a bit of peace in the middle of this noisy world (because who doesn’t want both, right?). Sometimes, what you’re looking for shows up in the most unexpected ways.
As the sun dipped below the mountains, I started reflecting on time. At first, it was the usual “I don’t have enough of it… I shouldn’t be here… it’s not very productive” kind of thinking. Then, I remembered a book I read a while back: 4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals by Oliver Burkeman. (A light read, right? Just casually pondering life’s meaning and the fleeting nature of existence.) The book struck me then; as you can see, it still comes to me in unexpected moments.
Here’s the central idea: our lives are roughly 4,000 weeks long.
Yep, just 4,000 weeks!
If that doesn’t make you feel like you’re running out of time, I don’t know what will.
Burkeman’s main takeaway is simple: our obsession with squeezing every second out of every day often does more harm than good. I liken it to trying to run a 100-mile race by sprinting the whole way—eventually, everyone burns out, and trust me, that’s no fun. Instead of fighting the clock, we should embrace our limits and focus on what truly matters.
As I ran back to my car in the fading light, it clicked: the idea of time being finite isn’t a stressor—it’s a gift. When you see time as limited, it forces you to be present. This step… this mile… this sunset… will only ever happen once, so embrace it. If we can accept that we can’t do everything and instead focus on what really matters, we might just find that profound peace ourselves.
Christian Bobin, the prolific French poet wrote:
“I was peeling a red apple from the garden when I suddenly understood that life would only ever give me a series of wonderfully insoluble solutions. With that, that ocean of profound peace entered my heart.”
So, here’s my challenge for the days ahead: Like Bobin, pause to peel the metaphorical apple from the garden. Stop trying to do everything. Embrace that some things won’t get done—and that’s OK. Focus on what truly matters.
~ Good vibes and many sunsets ahead ~
>>> If you’re looking for a few resources to help you on your path, you can start some of these:
- 4,000 Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
- Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout
- The Rules for Living (Tool to clarify and coordinate priorities)
Or simply block time in your schedule to watch the next sunset…