Can you wrap your mind around the most recent (2011) accepted age of the Earth, 4.567 billion years? That‟s a very long time. How many seconds is that? If this geologic time span was represented by the distance from the top of your arm to your longest fingertip, the entire time of human existence could be removed by a trim of your fingernail.

This existence of ours is as transient as autumn clouds. To watch the birth and death of beings is like looking at the movements of a dance. A lifetime is like a flash of lightning in the sky, rushing by, like a torrent down a steep mountain.

~ Buddha ~

When ABA went to Sedona last month, we took a Pink Jeep ride and Bob, our guide, gave us the time line of Earth and humans in a 24 hour period. It was fascinating! I asked him about it and he said it was on PBS. Imagine….Earth was born at midnight. The scientists think the first single celled organisms appeared around 4:00 a.m.. Dinosaurs began roaming the planet just before 11 p.m.. The first humans walked the Earth only 30 seconds ago. So, my life on this timeline is, what…. only a fraction of a second? With what thoughts am I filling my time on this earth?

Wonderful, indeed, it is to subdue the mind,

so difficult to subdue, ever swift, and

wandering wherever it desires.

A tamed mind brings happiness.

~ Buddha ~

My father used to say that if we were to fill a mop bucket to the top with water, drop by drop, a person‟s life would be equivalent to one drop. With what actions am I filling my time on this earth?

I slept and dreamed that life was joy.

I awoke and saw that life was service.

I acted and behold, service was joy.

~Rabindranath Tagore ~

The following is an excerpt from a book, “First Thing Every Morning”, written by Lewis Timberlake.

If you had a bank that credited your account each morning with $86,400, with no balance carried forward from day to day, what would you do?

You do have such a bank…..time. Every morning it credits you with 86,400 seconds. Every night you “lose” whatever you have failed to use toward good purposes. You can‟t hoard it, save it, store it, loan it, or invest it. You can only use it….time.

Arthur Berry was described by Time Magazine as “the slickest second-story man in the East,” one of the most famous jewel thieves of all times. He committed as many as 150 burglaries and stole jewels valued between $5M and $10M. He robbed those on the Social Register, and often in

a tuxedo. He was caught in the act of crime a couple of times but charmed his way out of being reported to the police.

Berry was eventually caught, convicted, and served 25 years in prison for his crimes. Following his release, he worked as a counterman in a roadside restaurant on the East Coast for $50/week.

A newspaper reporter found, and interviewed Berry. At the conclusion of the interview, Berry said, “I am not good at morals. But early in my life I was intelligent and clever, and I got along well with people. I think I could have made something of my life, but I didn‟t. So when you write the story of my life, when you tell people about all the burglaries, don‟t leave out the biggest one of all. Don‟t just tell them I robbed Jesse Livermore, the Wall Street baron, or the cousin of the king of England. You tell them that Arthur Berry robbed Arthur Berry.”

By three methods may we learn wisdom:

First, by reflection, which is the noblest;

Second, by imitation, which is the easiest;

Third, by experience, which is the bitterest.

~ Confucius ~

Here are six terrific truths about time:

1. Nobody can manage time. But you can manage those things that take up your time.

The thought manifests as the word;

The word manifests as the deed;

And habit hardens into character.

So watch the thought and its ways with care, and let it spring from love born out of concern for all beings.

~ Buddha ~

2. Time is expensive. As a matter of fact, 80% of our day is spent on those things or those people that only bring us 2% of our results.

The world we have created is a product of our thinking;

it cannot be changed without changing our thinking.

~ Albert Schweitzer ~

3. Time is perishable. It cannot be saved for later use.

Lost time is never found again.

~ Benjamin Franklin ~

4. Time is measurable. Everybody has the same amount of time….pauper or king. It is not how much time you have; it is how much you use to good end, and not waste.

I am thankful that thus far today I have not had any unkind thoughts or said any harsh words or done anything that I regret.

However, now I need to get out of bed and so things may become a little more difficult.

~ Sylvia Boorstein (sent by Heidi Ferguson) ~

5. Time is irreplaceable. We never make back time once it is gone.

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and

make a brand new ending.

~ Carl Bard ~

6. Time is a priority. You have enough time for anything in the world, so long as it ranks high enough among your priorities, and you act on it.

Don’t be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated. You can’t cross a chasm in two small jumps.

~ David Lloyd George ~

 

The story of Arthur Berry made me take stock of what I do with my time…..with my life. Life is precious. Time is precious. Life is finite. Why waste time by choosing to remain angry at someone? Why waste time choosing to live in….”if only”…and be unhappy? Life is choices. How I “be” at this moment is my choice. There are times when one becomes unhappy (i.e. the loss of a loved one), or angry (when someone causes harm to others), but why waste precious time dwe-e-e-lli-i-ing on it? What would happen if you acknowledged those feelings, and went on with your life, being the best person you can be?

If you realized how powerful your thoughts are,

you would never think a negative thought.

~ Mildred Norman ~

When I think about my deceased parents, I become very sad. Then, I tell them “I miss you and love you. Thank you for my life, and for raising me in the Dharma. I am doing my best.” Just that little acknowledgement of my feelings, helps me feel grateful, keeps me from dwelling on my sadness, and re-energizes me, as I know that‟s what they would want.

It is in your moments of decision

that your destiny is shaped.

~ Anthony Robbins ~

Kimberly Dozier is an award winning Associated Press correspondent covering intelligence and counter-terrorism. She was stationed in Baghdad in 2006 when she was critically injured in a car bomb attack which killed 5 people. She had more than two dozen surgeries and many months of rehabilitation. She fully recovered in 2008 and ran a 10K in the US Marine Corps Marathon to raise funds for Fisher House which provides housing for loved ones of combat injured. Kimberly wrote a book while she was recovering, “Breathing the Fire, Fighting to Report and Survive the War in Iraq”, which chronicles her physical and emotional recovery.

She said some of the injured soldiers suffer from post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) which negatively affects their lives. But some have post traumatic stress growth (PTSG). Instead of letting their injuries negatively affect their lives, they have grown from it and have turned their negative experiences into positive ones. Kimberly is an example of PTSG. She is now back on the front lines, and continues to inspire others as she shares her experiences. That is really making good use of her seconds.

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?”

~ Martin Luther King Jr. ~

Those of you who watch Dancing with the Stars see another example of PTSG, Cpl. JR Martinez who was with the 101st Airborne Division, the war hero turned actor. In 2003 at 19 years old, he was deployed to Iraq. The jeep he was driving hit a landmine and his buddies were thrown out of the jeep but he was trapped inside. He suffered 3rd degree burns over 40% of his body. You know how painful it is to be burned by an iron or a hot stove? Can you imagine his pain?

 

JR grieved for his loss of the man he once was. His mother came to visit him and told him he had a lot to learn about life. She said people are going to be in his life for the person he is, rather than what he looks like. At the end of the conversation something clicked and he said, “You know what Mom? You‟re right. And now I‟m actually glad this happened to me. Now I get to see who liked me as a person, versus who liked me for being the popular guy in school, being the athlete, being the handsome young man. Now I get to see who really loves me or likes me for who I am as a person.”

When you squeeze an orange, orange juice comes out – because that’s what’s inside. When you are squeezed, what comes out is what is inside.

~ Dr. Wayne Dyer ~

During his 2 years in an army hospital undergoing 33 surgeries, he moved from depression and despair, to visiting other wounded servicemembers at the hospital. They too were devastated and did not want to continue living. He noticed that after he talked to them, they seemed to cope better. He realized he had a gift and decided to share that gift with other wounded. He began to visit patients everyday, to help them and prepare them on what to expect. He continues to be a motivational speaker, and does charity work on behalf of wounded troops. JR could be the poster person for post traumatic stress growth. He has certainly been a positive influence in people‟s lives, and is making very good use of his seconds on Earth.

When we choose not to focus on what’s missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present

…..we experience heaven on earth.

~ Sarah Breathnach ~

In a couple of weeks it‟s goodbye, 2011, and welcome, 2012! It seems just a little while ago we were saying hello to 2011. And for you younger ones, it‟s true. Though each of us has exactly the same amount of seconds each day, the days seem to go by faster, the older one gets.

However 2011 occurred in our lives…….great, so-so, not so great …… we have the opportunity to reflect on the many things for which to be grateful. Life really is worth celebrating.

Thank you for the opportunity to serve you as President of OCBC. The two years (or 63,244,800 seconds) flew by, and it was a joy and a privilege to work with all of you!

Thank you for the support you have given me, the Board of Directors, and the many individuals who volunteered (or, volunTOLD, as Linda Okino calls it) to chair our events and committees. It is you, the Sangha, who have given us the joy, inspiration, laughter, and the desire to do our best. You ongoingly rekindle our flames! Our top hats off to you, the top Sangha!!!

Sometimes our light goes out but is blown again into flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled this inner light.

~ Albert Schweitzer ~

Hello, 2012! Happy New Year! I trust that our lives will be filled with wisdom, compassion, forgiveness, health, abundance, happiness, and love. Create your life! Kanpai!!! Cheers!!!

The here and now is all we have,

and if we play it right, it’s all we’ll need.

~ Ann Richards ~

In gassho and gratitude,

Rumiko Iijima Nakatani, aka the Hat Lady