Using Your Time
“The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.” — Jack London
In the most recent James Bond film, No Time to Die, this quote by Jack London was used to describe the life of the international super spy. From the moment I heard it in the theater, it’s struck me as significant. Most of life today encourages us to prolong our time. We are fed the claim there’s nothing better than to enjoy consuming more and more, getting the best of life means buying and having the best of the things we see advertised around use.
Even the Bond franchise plays a role here. Wouldn’t you life a fuller life if you owned the watch Bond wears? You can, just order from Omega or Rolex and it too can be yours.
Don’t mistake me, I like buying expensive cool stuff. I’m writing this article on a MacBook Pro. However, buying things, owning things, is not using time. It’s letting others use your time. Your time is your responsibility. How you spend it defines who you are and who you become.
London spoke this quote from a life filled with adventure, lived on the edge of life and society. He didn’t question what could happen, he…
