The value of time (a lucid dream)

        I had a lucid dream. It was about an architect who had a good life, a bright mind and a heart that could conquer the entire world with its passion. Being a creative person, he enjoyed many things like painting, writing and even building things with his hands. He was happiest when working on one of his projects and as soon as he finished it or at least solved the major problems, he moved on to the next one, and then to the next one. You see, he got bored easily and as soon as an activity was no longer a challenge, he saw no reason to keep at it and moved on.

        He worked on allot of interesting projects and soon he put together a business of his own. At first it was difficult but after a while things started to fall into place and he got more and more commissions. He was an excellent professional and a charismatic leader who treated each of his clients with respect and put a lot of effort into his designs. His work did not go unnoticed and as time passed he became a known and appreciated architect. His business grew steadily as he gained notoriety and the acknowledgement of his peers. By now he was happily married and was starting a family. His wife was a wonderful and supporting person and his new born son was a joy to behold. He spent every minute he could with his family and every other minute working on his projects, which were…more and more ambitious. He had a couple of nice cars, a great house and the perfect family. One might say….he had it all. After all, what more can a man ask for in life.

        As the years passed, you could find his projects presented in many magazines and on the internet. He even published books and articles about his work.  He was now a famous architect and clients from all over the world rushed to him with wonderful commissions. He now had the luxury of choosing his clients and complete control over the design process. The business expanded even more and he now had a lot of people working for him and a lot of responsibilities. In all this chaos he somehow still found time to spend with his family and got to watch his son grow up and become a great person. He was now growing old and tired from all the long years and 12 hour work days but still had the strength to lead his business and go hiking with his son and his new fiancé.  Soon he became a grandfather and he again felt the joy of holding a newborn in his arms.  Staring into his grandson's eyes he saw all the endless potential that a single life could offer. He had great hopes and dreams for his grandson but, being a wise man, he knew better than to burden others with his expectations. He instead hoped that the child would have a remarkable life, as he did.

        One day, while he was hiking with his son and grandson he came across an amazing sight, at the top of mountain peak.  It was late in the day and the setting sun lit the sky and all the clouds in to a magnificent show of color. The beautiful play of shadow and light painted an almost surreal landscape. It was the most amazing thing he had ever seen… and he had seen and made many wonderful things.

        As he stood there alongside his son and grandson, contemplating the beauty, he finally understood what his life was all about… It was all about those wonderful moments that took his breath away.  As he made his way down the mountain path, he could not help but ask himself why there were so few of these moments in his life and why did so many years have to pass before he understood the things that he now understood. 

        He enjoyed most of his work and he got to actually make a difference in to many people's lives, over the years. That was more than most people accomplish in their lifetime.  However, things seemed to become more complicated with the passing of time and the innocence and burning passion he had in his eyes when his journey was starting, had faded. Suddenly none of his past seemed to matter and all but a few moments, like the one he just had, were vivid and fresh in his mind. It was those moments that gave him meaning but it was not enough.  He felt that there was so much more to do and to experience and each idle moment  became like a great weight bearing down on him, suffocating him and filling him with a sense of urgency. Time was now more precious than ever so he decided that, no matter how much he had left, he would spend it doing all the things he wanted to do but somehow ended up convincing himself to neglect. He did not understand anymore: Why in the world did he do that?  Why did he not do all those things? 

        Suddenly he remembered about the novel he started to write in those early years, when it seemed that nothing was impossible and settling for anything less than changing the world seemed like madness. He now wondered where and when he had lost that feeling. It was a mystery but it did not matter anymore because the feeling was now back and all was not lost. He was going to finish the novel and fulfill what was perhaps his true destiny.  His spirit was invigorated and bathed into renewed light as he rushed down the mountain path with the energy of a young man. The impossible seemed possible again.

        As he skipped from one rock to the next, fate dealt him his final hand. He tripped and hit his head on a large boulder then tumbled downhill injuring himself fatally. When he finally stopped he knew he was not to rise ever again. As his son and grandson desperately rushed towards him, his mind became haunted by flashbacks and all the major decisions he had ever made in his life were now returned to him in vivid colors. He remembered passages from his unfinished book and reviewed all the words that he had written and that no one else had ever read.  They were inspiring words of hope, courage and compassion that resonated with his whole being and even now brought tears to his eyes. They were words that embodied a young man's dream of a better world. That young man had the courage to act as his heart dictated, defying the status quo and the aged rules of society. Was he all that different back then? Could his rusty courage not have shined once more? Time, that was it…..back then he had time…

        "Why is grandpa crying?" the grandson asked.  "Grandpa is happy" his father replied, "He is going to fly with the angels, now" 

As the dying man took his last breath, he wished he could tell his son and grandson that he loved them… just one more time. It was time he did not have.