“If I could save time in a bottle, the first thing that I’d like to do…”
— Jim Croce
Jim Croce’s timeless song “Time in a Bottle” speaks to the fleeting nature of life and the yearning to preserve its best moments — to hold on to them before they slip away.
Measuring Time
On my desk sits a ship’s clock encased in wood — a relic from an era when sailors used such instruments to calculate longitude and measure distance traveled across the seas. Next to it rests an hourglass once used to track a ship’s watch periods. When the last grains of sand fell, a bell would be rung, signaling the next crew to take their post.
In Earlville, the small rural town where I grew up, time was measured by sound. A 7 a.m., 12 noon, and 9 p.m. whistle marked the rhythm of our days — calling folks to work, signaling
lunch, and, for children like me, announcing it was time to head home.
The Speed of Time
As we age, time seems to accelerate — and according to research, it actually does feel that way in our brains. Still, we each receive the same daily allotment: twenty-four hours, 1,440 minutes, 86,400 seconds. The question is how we choose to spend them.
Many of us trade hours for wages — clocking in at a factory, showing up at the office, or working remotely. What has always surprised me, as an employer, is how little value people often place on their time. We act as if it were infinite, letting it flow away like water through open hands.
Time Well Spent
Yet work is more than a transaction of hours. It’s the satisfaction of a job well done, the quiet joy of contributing to something greater, and the sense of purpose that comes from being recognized for one’s efforts.
Most of us hope to leave a mark — to make the world just a bit better than we found it. The time we invest in others, whether as parents, mentors, or teachers, often yields unseen dividends years later. If we’ve encouraged someone, eased their path, or inspired them to grow, that too is time well spent.
Reflections and Gratitude
As I write this — the 339th article for The Whittaker Report — I find myself deeply grateful for your time and attention. Without your readership, there would be little reason to write each month.
Thank you for sharing this journey with me.