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Senior Maggie Acuna
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April 12, 2006
Throughout the season an Illinois women's basketball player will post her thoughts on fightingillini.com in a weekly blog. In her final BasketBlog, senior Maggie Acuna talks about both the stability and unpredictability of time.
Click Here for all of this season's BasketBlog entries
Women's BasketBlog - April 12, 2006 - Maggie Acuna
Time seems to be how we function. It is the overall schedule and framework for hours, days, weeks, months, years, etc. Time is the one thing that is universal no matter what culture, race, or country. It is also the one of few things that is non-controversial and in the hands of no one. Is that really possible?
The idea that no one has control over time makes it stable. It also makes it predictable. One second is always one second, and an hour is always one hour. The consistency of time is genius. And the unpredictability of time ending is life.
What I am trying to say is that in all situations time expires at some point. I have recently found that time expiration has been a common theme in my life. The most obvious is that my collegiate basketball career is over as an Illini. I was fortunate to have played all four years in considerable good health and knew the end. However, there are less fortunate people who face an unexpected injury to make their expiration date earlier than expected. The next situation is the end of my college education. If things go as planned, I expect to graduate in May with my fellow classmates, Janelle and Brittney. In this situation, I also know my expiration date. These are all planned events over many years that are finally nearing their end and seem to be following their planned course. Time seems relatively easy in these situations.
Time starts to make more of an impact when the end occurs earlier than expected. These situations are always tough to face and harder to move on from. I recently was confronted with the end of time with my grandma and her life. Since she passed, I became even more aware that the end of your own life is hidden from us. Another example of experiences when time may end too early is when you get fired from a job. If it is life, a job, or all that is in between, no matter how hard you try, you really can't control the end. The few things that you can control are your relationships with people. This includes your family, friends, coaches, teachers, etc. I have learned that if you have good relationships with those you love, the unexpected ends can seem easier. It is the best reassurance to have your family and friends behind you as you walk the life of time.
We have to ask ourselves...What do we expect/want from our time available?
Did I do all I could?
Mags #21 (retired)
