Last updated on September 28, 2024
There is a scene in the movie “The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” where Judi Dench sits on the roof of a building in Mumbai, and she talks to her business partner about her private life and concerns.
She is in love with an older gentleman, who lives with her in the same retirement hotel in India. He feels the same way and wants to take the relationship a step further, but she feels she needs more time to adjust to the new situation. She is in her late 70s, and so is he.
“I just need to tell him that I need a little bit more time,” she explains, “I am sure he will understand.”
Her business partner, a very wise young Indian man looks at her and asks, “How much time do you have?”
She doesn’t say a word after that; she just looks at him.
A sagacious statement indeed, it took my breath away. Guilty as charged, I am the same way. I too tend to kick the can down the curb. Yes, one day I will go and book the pottery class I always wanted to take. One day, in a future far, far away, I will have time to do all the things I have planned.
Maybe in a few years from now, when I will retire –even though I know, I will never really stop working.
We all don’t know how much time we have on this planet, yet we often decide to make generous plans with the rest amount of time we think we have.
My neighbor right across the street, she just got a possible expiration date. She just found out she has advanced cancer in her lungs and her pancreas. Once again Cancer has an innocent victim in its claws. The outcome of the fight is unknown, but chances are not good. This time, the big “C” might win.
The older I get, the more I watch people around me disappear. People – taken by tragic accidents, people of all ages –young and old- fighting deadly diseases. I have done so myself; death knocked on my door twice and twice I showed him the middle finger and slammed the door. I know he will be back, this guy is persistent.
The fact remains I am not a spring chicken. I should not be so generously wasting my time the way I do.
This beautiful marriage to my best friend could be over one day -one day one of us will have to leave the other. Maybe tomorrow, perhaps we have 30 more years?
We just don’t know?
“Don’t worry; there will be another election in just four years,” a friend of mine replied when we talked about this troubling election.
What if we don’t have four more years? What if we put the nuclear codes in the hands of a lunatic and POOF we all go down the drain?
We all are too generous with time.
Talk the talk, walk the walk! And now I will make the hair appointment and I will get the few peacock blue highlights I want to try so badly. Also, there is this little chest that I don’t need but would like to have. Guess what? It’s time!
How did it work out? I see this post is 8 years old, but still relevant.
I mean the Bucket List Day!
Right now I have platinum blonde hair with purple strands. Not bad for a 60 year old lady 🙂 As for the chest. I had all forgotten about it. But I did the ‘peacock’ 🙂
“Maybe in a few years from now, when I will retire –even though I know, I will never really stop working” That sounds so very familiar, and like you I’m trying to give myself a wake-up call to stop putting off things that I really want to do. Problem is, there are so many 🙂
Actually, I was sitting down with my husband, and we decided to have a “bucket list day” once a month. A day to fulfill smaller or big wishes and dreams. I am curious to see how it will go.
Sounds like an intriguing idea that’ll work out surprises, and so good you can do it together!
I curious to see how it will go. 🙂 Thank you for reading and thank you for your comment. Nice meeting you
Same here 🙂
[…] via A Generous Waste of Time — The happy Quitter! […]
Did you get the peacock blue highlights?
Love Judi Dench. Loved both the Marigold movies 🙂
… and I couldn’t agree more about not postponing what you can do today. Tomorrow is not a guarantee.
I am scheduled for a crazy cut and colors next Sunday the 9th. Last week we tried a few wash-out blogs and I LOVED it.
It’s not going to be all over, just a few on one side…so he said and I don’t dare to argue with my hairstylist. 🙂
Please, please, please post a photo?
Very well worded post armored with a great movie clip.All the best for your highlights too!It was indeed an insightful and enriching post
The film was an apt vehicle for this importantly reflective piece.
I loved the movie, both of them.
Me too
Outstanding post. I love this movie (Both of them) and I agree. Live now. I would like to reblog this if you have not objection.
I think of this often as I have had a scare and my wife has had one as well. She also had an accident where the doctors actually told her she would not walk again. (But then doctors don’t know everything, do they!) As an aside, I do love Judi Dench. But if Helen Mirren ever called, I told my wife I’d drop everything and go!
My husband told me the same, but I guess it is fair, because if Richard Gere ever stops at our house I am gone too.
No, doctors don’t know everything. They told me that I probably won’t survive and that was 21 years ago.
I wonder if the doctor who told you that is still around!
He is around and mighty proud of himself. He was the surgeon and I am his success. Human beings are unpredictable, some of us are the strongest when others think we are weak.
True. Well, I hope he’s had a lot more successes than failures in his career. And you better get off the stick and start checking items off your bucket list. I will, too.
You’re right. Time is a treasure and we don’t know how much we have. I’m trying to don’t waste it in stupid things and spend as much as I can with my family
We should spend it on things we really enjoy for ourselves as well. Time is flying faster, when we get older.
That’s so true!
She is one of my favorite actresses…and she looks just lovely here. Thanks for sharing! 😀
I love her in that movie. Both parts of the Marigold movies play endlessly in my workroom. Judi Drench is one of the last great Dames. Like you…I adore her.
If you have not seen the movies, watch them. You will fall in love all over.