Rebel Talk: What is time?

This last weekend was filled with kid activities. Football, fall baseball, and baseball tryouts for next years Spring baseball season already. I coach my kids baseball teams. Yesterday I was standing there along the first baseline watching my son at bat and was hit with the concept of time. I've been watching/coaching both of them for many years. I'm 6'5" and my oldest is taller than my shoulders now. As our kids get older the teams get condensed further and further down with less and less kids continuing on and travel teams taking over as they work towards high school. Which means, next year, I will likely not be coaching them any longer as the travel teams have their coaches in place. 

So there I stood, paralyzed by the thought of this being one of the last times I'll be watching them as a coach. Time in that moment, seemed evil. 

Is it evil? But what is time? And how can I/we use this moment, and think of time in a way that propels us forward instead of fearing it.

Time, it’s something we all experience, yet rarely pause to consider. It weaves our lives together, pulling us along with each tick of the clock, each passing day. In a world obsessed with speed and instant results, it often feels like time slips away too quickly. Just like this weekend felt for me. But what if we changed how we looked at it? Instead of seeing time as something to race against, what if we saw it as our greatest ally?

Time teaches us, whether we notice or not. Each moment counts. It doesn’t care if you’re at your best or just starting out. Time is steady, always there on your journey. The real secret? It’s not about how fast you go. It’s about how much meaning you bring into each minute.

The Power of Patience

We’ve all been there. Stuck, wanting life to speed up because the struggle feels endless or the goal seems too far away. But time, it teaches patience. Growth happens in those slow moments, in the quiet battles. A tree doesn’t grow from a seed overnight, and neither do our dreams, our relationships, or our personal transformations. Time asks us to trust in the process.

Take a second to think about where you were five years ago. What seemed impossible then? What challenges felt like mountains? Look at you now. Maybe you’re not where you want to be yet, but you’ve grown. Every hour spent pushing forward, every setback, has shaped you. Time is a sculptor, slowly revealing the masterpiece that is you.

Making the Most of Every Minute

There’s a common myth that we can make more time, but the truth is we can only make more of the time we have. That doesn’t mean filling every moment with tasks or trying to juggle everything. It’s about focusing your energy and attention on what truly matters.

Think about how you spend your time. Are you investing it in things that lift you up? Or are distractions eating away at it? Time doesn’t ask for perfection, but it does ask for purpose. Life isn’t about how many years you live but how well you live them. Are you chasing passions, growing as a person, and being present with loved ones? Or are you waiting for some far-off goal, thinking you’ll start truly living once you get there?

Time in the Grind

One thing I’ve learned from the grind is that it’s sacred. Every workout that leaves you breathless, every late-night brainstorming session, every failure that makes you want to give up—these are all part of the process. And time? Time is the canvas where this journey unfolds. There’s beauty in how time forces us to slow down, to appreciate the small victories along the way.

Time won’t ever speed up, no matter how much we want it to. It’s humbling, reminding us we can’t control everything. But we can control our effort, our mindset, and our attitude. Time might not give us what we want when we want it, but it rewards those who show up, consistently, ready to put in the work.

Building a Legacy

When you begin to respect time, you start thinking about the legacy you’re building. What are you leaving behind? Are you pouring yourself into the things and people that truly matter? Time doesn’t care about money or fame—it cares about impact.

Think of every moment as a brick in the foundation of your life’s story. Some days, those bricks feel heavy, other days, they come together with ease. But each one counts. The legacy you build isn’t just for you, it’s for those who follow. Your well-spent time can inspire others to use theirs wisely.

Embrace the Clock

The truth is, time doesn’t stop. It keeps moving forward, just like you. You can’t slow it down, but you can use it. You can wake up each day with purpose, knowing your time here is a gift. And that gift, though finite, can create an impact that stretches far beyond your years if you choose to use it well.

Don’t waste another minute waiting for the “right” time to live the life you want. The clock keeps ticking, but that’s not something to fear—it’s a reminder. Time is on your side, as long as you’re on your own side. So go out there. Build something, grow, love, fail, and try again.

Time will pass. But what you choose to do with it? That’s entirely up to you.

Our time is now.

Stay Relentless,

Ryan