Pink Floyd had it right; time is a very tricky little beast. Either you feel like you have all the time in the world, or you feel you could never possibly have enough of it to do the things you want or need to do.

There is just something about summertime that makes some people, me included, feel like you should accomplish all kinds of things, most likely because of all the additional sunlight. Summer is beginning to draw to a close, and I start to wonder where all the time went. Why haven't I been able to do all the things I wanted to? The shortening of days has begun to give me this feeling of an immenent end.

Honestly, I have no idea if a relationship can work under these circumstances. In my situation, it just did not. Even if things were great and we were having fun together, I suppose that just was not enough to make it last. Life goals and ambitions were being ignored, so sadly, at least for me, the relationship had come to an end.

In a perfect world, however, my suggestion for making a relationship like this work would be to try.

We are grownups after all, and life is short. I have learned that life throws you curve balls that you never expected or imagined. I have learned that valuable lesson from my mom. If she hadn't been willing to let go of some of her life plans, she may never have met a great man and moved to Alaska to be remarried.

After all, in a relationship it's OK to spend time apart. Of course each person has their own interests, hobbies and friends. I would never give the other person any grief when they want to do something separate and apart from me, because it's nothing personal.

Time management for any relationship is key. It takes effort. If the relationship is worth it, you will see amazing rewards. Do you live your life from day to day living in the moment, or do you go ahead as planned and then one day look back and wonder where all those wonderful things you passed up went?

• Amy Gaisford can be contacted at ames22581@yahoo.com.