When most of us hear the phrase “respecting time,” the first thought that comes to mind is punctuality. We believe that if we promise to meet a friend at 6 p.m. at a café and we show up at 6 p.m. sharp, then we’ve done our job. We respected time. While that’s not wrong, it’s a very narrow view of what it really means to respect time. Punctuality is one small piece of a much bigger picture.

Respecting time goes deeper than keeping appointments. It is about aligning our actions with what the moment truly calls for. It’s about being present, being intentional, and doing what matters at the right time. Think of a classroom. If you’re physically in school but mentally distracted, scrolling through your phone, you aren’t respecting time. You’re wasting a moment designed for learning. Doing the right thing at the right time is perhaps one of the purest forms of respecting time.

The same holds true when we talk about discipline. Following a schedule, for instance, is not about rigidity but about recognizing the value of time. When you wake up early to exercise, work on a goal, or simply prepare for the day, you’re not just respecting your own clock—you’re respecting life itself. Every structured choice you make tells time: “I see you. I won’t waste you.”

Respecting time also means recognizing the fleeting nature of life. We all live under the illusion that time is infinite. But it isn’t. There is no endless tomorrow. This one life is all we have, and how we prioritize things shows whether we truly understand that fact. Do we spend our limited hours on what really matters, or do we scatter them on trivial distractions? Our priorities reveal whether we honor time or ignore it.

Philosopher and neuroscientist Sam Harris once offered a profound reminder: “No matter how many times you do something, there will come a day when you do it for the last time.” Those words sting a little because they are true. There will come a last time your child will ask you to read them a bedtime story. A last time you’ll share a long walk with a sibling. A last time you’ll hug your parents. A last time your friend will reach out to you for comfort. We often live as though these moments will repeat endlessly, but each is on a countdown we cannot see.

That’s the heart of respecting time—living with the awareness that all of this will end, sooner than we think. Instead of brushing off a dinner invitation from your parents, maybe you say yes. Instead of scrolling through your phone while your child tells you about their day, you look them in the eye and listen. Instead of postponing dreams for “someday,” you take one small step toward them today. Because someday will run out.

Respecting time is not just about discipline and structure, but about love and presence. It is knowing that time is the thread holding together every meaningful relationship and every precious memory. To respect time is to give yourself fully to the people and moments that matter before they slip quietly into the past.

In the end, respecting time means respecting life itself. It’s not only about showing up on schedule but about showing up fully—mind, body, and heart—because every second is one you’ll never get back. Live as though it could be the last time, and you’ll find yourself treating every moment with the reverence it deserves.