A Year of Sundays: The 42nd & 43rd Sundays (10/19/25 & 10/26/25)

ING: ImagineNewGreatness
Oct 27
2 min read

The Speed of Time and the Grace of Reflection

Time is moving so fast! These autumn weeks seem to be rushing by, as if the calendar itself is eager to reach the holidays. I almost forgot to pause and create my Sunday reflections—proof that even our most cherished rituals can slip away in the current of busy days.

Yet, as I sit here now, tea in hand and the scent of cinnamon lingering in the air, I am filled with gratitude. I love this time of year—the anticipation of gatherings, the sparkle of celebrations ahead, and the quiet reflections that come as we begin to look back on the months behind us.

This year has been extraordinary—ten months of lessons, growth, and resilience. Through the challenges and the triumphs, I have continued to return to my affirmations and to the practice of focusing on the can-dos rather than the cannots.

The Meaning of Time and Presence

Time is not only a measure of our days—it is the rhythm of our becoming. Psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (1990), in his seminal work Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, reminds us that our perception of time changes when we are deeply engaged in life. Moments of joy and purpose make time expand; distraction and stress compress it.

Philosopher Henri Bergson (1910) also described time as something experienced through duration, not just the ticking of the clock. His view suggests that each season, each week, holds emotional weight—time, in this sense, is felt as much as it is counted.

Perhaps this is why fall feels both fleeting and full. It is the season of compression and expansion—days shorten, yet meaning deepens.

The Art of Rebounding

Resilience continues to be a defining theme in my year. Psychologist Angela Duckworth (2016) defines grit as perseverance fueled by passion. I have come to understand that rebounding is not about avoiding setbacks—it is about embracing them as invitations to recalibrate.

Each challenge of this year has strengthened my inner compass. My affirmations have become small but powerful acts of self-leadership, helping me to reframe obstacles as opportunities for growth.

As Viktor Frankl (1946) wrote in Man’s Search for Meaning, “When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”

A Practice for the Week

Take five minutes each evening this week to write one sentence beginning with “This moment taught me…”You will be surprised how slowing time through reflection expands your awareness and gratitude.