Let's face it : We have all came to a moment in our lives that thought about the relation of time and money. It is commonly known that "time is money", mainly because we are living in a consumer-focused society, especially even moreso now with the global financial crisis. Now, let's focus more on this one.

 

   Let's make an assumption by saying that "time is money" literally means that "time spent in productivity is money", thus the more time you spent in being productive the more rewarding financial-wise it gets. That can be true in many cases and be applied in many big companies and industry, resulting in contracts with a tight break schedule for employees to ensure productivity. That is true when it comes to whatever relation you can get into your head and includes a company and a product.

 

  But as we greeks say, "was that what the poet was trying to say"?

 

   As hard as I searched about the origins of the quote "time is money", I came up with various results while googling. Most popular theory is that Benjamin Franklin said it, one of the most important faces in America's history and one of the most influential Founding Fathers of the latter. With a quick glance at wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin (for those that grew on a cave and never heard the name before), one can tell that he worked hard in many aspects in his life, being a polymath. A political theorist, a writer, an inventor, a scientist, a diplomat...

 

  So, of course the line says about "time spent in productivity equals money", right? Wrong. 

 

Franklin never patented his inventions; in his autobiography he wrote, "... as we enjoy great advantages from the inventions of others, we should be glad of an opportunity to serve others by any invention of ours; and this we should do freely and generously." His inventions also included social innovations, such as paying forward. Franklin's fascination with innovation could be viewed as altruistic; he wrote that his scientific works were to be used for increasing efficiency and human improvement. One such improvement was his effort to expedite news services through his printing presses. 

 

  In very few lines, he implies that, since people in the past wasted time and effort to invent unpatented things for the common good, we should give our inventions freely. And we should be glad that we have this opportunity! So, forgive me if I'm just scratching the surface of a historical figure such as him because as a greek man living in this age I consider myself minimal to even express my graditude towards symbols such as him, but I can express my approach in the quote that I am talking about even more freely.

 

  Time is money means that "our time is valuable". "Wow, good job, genious!", you might just thought or even screamed after you invested some minutes from your day reading this post, but I'll stretch it more than that. When was the last time you refused to pay (in euros or dollars) for something? Perhaps it was some minutes ago. Maybe it was yesterday. And I bet you thought "that's too expensive for me" or "it didn't worth the money". The money is the reward for the time investment. The time invested in obtaining it is the real value one must always have in top priority.

 

  Admit it : How many times you accepted that "you wasted your time on this"? Heck, you might even say that now or you might say that in the end of my post. It really doesn't matter. What it matters is to understand that the euros that you spent everyday came up from the time investment in your work and NOT ONLY. If we calculate the time you invested studying in order to get that work you're gonna slap yourself. That alone should make euros worth even more, right? Wrong again.

 

  I really don't know about you but, I haven't met a time bank yet. I don't know what will happen in the years to come, I'm not a psychic. I can see banks that store money, sperm or whatever. But time? Time comes by only once. When we are young we can't really grasp the firm logic behind this, since we got all our life ahead for us. But, the way I see it, is that whenever I pay for something in euros, there was a time spent in hard work to achieve this result. Thus, time is the prime material for everything, even emotions. You see what I did there?

 

  I myself am trapped in an antisocial situation in this time of writing this post. Or should I say "antime"? It really doesn't matter. What really matters is that, I invest time writing and thinking about all the things that I have to say in order to make myself valuable to others, even with the most minimal of my strength. So, last night I was out drinking...orange juice and at the end of the night I paid the bill. I do this a lot. When I get out with male friends, female friends or mixed : I'll do it sooner or later. But, with the way I see it is that, when I enjoy their company I can show them my appreciation. In this example and, thinking like a consumer, this would mean that "this person wants to show off his fat wallet". But I assure you, my wallet is far from fat. I lost my job recently due to health problems that I am facing and yet, I didn't hesitated one bit. You could say that I don't manage my money right, but I'll say that I know how to manage my time so it will be alright.

 

  So, dear reader, time is money but it has many differences with the euro :

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Isn’t my life still too long
for erasing these thoughts?
I have things left undone
that I want to try doing them again...

Even though I must have been pursuing the continuation of my dream
I stumble over other people on a narrow, winding road.

It’s not that I want to return to how it was like back then.
I’m searching for the sky that I’ve lost.
I wish that you’ll understand me
if I stop making that sad face like I’ve been sacrificed.

There aren’t tears at the end of sins,
I’ve painfully bore them all this time.
In the labyrinth of emotions where I can’t see the exit
who am I waiting for?

As if having written it in a white notebook
I want to divulge myself more honestly.
What do I want to flee from?
…Something known as reality?

"I’m alive so that I can fulfill myself"
I feel like shouting so; can you hear me?
Because I can’t be doing it safe and sound.
…There’s no place for me to return to, either.
I’m always grateful for kindness
so I want to become strong (I’m on the way).
I'm so nostalgic, I'll even welcome that pain...