Do you ever feel the need to slow down?
I popped by the Hermes “The Gift of Time” exhibition at the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station last week. It was a small exhibition but meaningful nonetheless. The first room has dozens of squarish frames with words and sayings in English, Chinese and French.
One particular frame caught my eye. It said, “When the Big Wheel stops and you’re in the top cabin.” I could very much relate to this as I went on the Singapore Flyer the day before. The higher our cabin soared, the more jelly-like my legs were, and at the peak, I was totally glued to my seat.
Sand in an hourglass keep falling. The caged bird keeps waiting. The wheels of time continue to turn.
It’s apt that the exhibition was housed at the Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, a place where time seems to have come to a halt. (Though plans for this place are yet to be unveiled, I’m secretly hoping that they will turn it into a rail museum.)
Stepping out from the exhibition and wandering out onto the shrub-overgrown train platforms, I felt like I was in a time warp.
Since becoming a parent, I’ve been feeling like time no longer stands on my side. It rushes by me like a roaring hurricane. Still, I try to guard my time like a hawk. Still, I make time to roll about with the kids. Still, I feel the guilt that weighs whenever I steal some time away to write.
Still, I am content. Thankful for each minute that I have to watch our kids grow. Each hour to invest in close relationships and productive, meaningful work. Thankful for time to be play and explore new places. Time to dream dreams and to take small steps each day towards them. Time to be still and to know the One who holds our days.
Each day that we have is indeed a precious gift.
Tomorrow, the entire nation celebrates its 47th birthday. Some of us might be partying along with thousands of others at the bay and watching fireworks kiss and ruffle the sky. For us, we’ll probably enjoy a quiet dinner with some friends. (Maybe it’s age, but we find it more comfortable to watch the celebrations from a distance.)
For most of us, I believe the long weekend has arrived. May the time be filled with happiness, relaxation and new discoveries of joy for you and yours.
Who will you give the gift of time to this weekend?
“The Gift of Time” exhibition is open until Aug 12, 11am to 9pm, Tanjong Pagar Railway Station, 30 Keppel Road. Free admission.
Want to feel the time wrap my self… hopefully tomorrow…
Happy weekend!
Enjoy the weekend too pc!
hope you had a lovely ND celebrations with friends. Time does seem to go by so much faster with the kids… you wonder how did they get so big so fast? Gotta really treasure those special moments, even the tiny ones..
Ai Sakura recently posted..Healthy Cooking with Tefal Non-stick Cookware #TefalSG
Hi Ai, totally agree. It always amazes me how fast they grow, especially with no.2 (perhaps due to an even more hectic schedule with 2 little ones to look after) Always need to remind myself too that this baby / tot phases will pass all too soon, especially when it gets a little challenging. Have a great weekend too, Ai!
This made my heart lift up and say YES! Time is precious indeed and so are our little ones.
PS. Love the new look of your blog
Mama, Hear Me Roar recently posted..Our homeschool curriculum
Thanks for those affirming words, dear! Glad to know you’re back on the blog!
Thanks for sharing those powerful imageries at the ‘Gift of Time’ exhibition…I too think it’s so apt that the exhibits are held there for there, time seemed to have stood still…We are constantly struggling for more time on our hands; sometimes it’s just takes a shift in perspective, to put time in priorities that really matter. Of course, that’s easier said than done when we have bills to pay, food to put on the table and obligations to fulfill but it’s a good reminder that time (and tide) waits for no men. If we want to make our days count, we gotta dictate time and not the other way round.
Angie recently posted..Photo *Heart* Friday: Princess Meets The President!
Hi Angie, well said. We really need to master time, and I think as a parent, some of the ways include having routines, priorities, so that we know when something is a distraction and are better able to handle things. That said, it can be quite difficult and some days it’s a struggle even. But still, it helps to differentiate the really big things from the small things.