Time.
What the heck is time. There are certain connotations behind the word. Now, despite how proud I bet I could make Ms.Galson/any other Academites who read Ceremony, I won't write about how time is not always linear. If you're interested in that type of 'time is illusory' type of theory/perspective, I'd suggest you read Ceremony by Leslie Silko. However, I digress...
So, what is time?
Time is money.
Hrm, not quite always the case. It seems that in today's lovely, booming, capitalist society if you're aren't busy working you're doing something darn well worth your time. (or if you're just a lazy couch potato, you're okay with that).
Before I read an article from Freakonomics (thank you Kate H for the blog suggestion!), I would be hard pressed to think of a scenario in which time isn't money. You spend it, right? Each minute could be a dollar or some equivalent one to one ratio of sorts. What I didn't consider was sometimes less time costs more money. Inspire by this article, sometimes taking a step back and slowing down is more profitable. I'm sure trying not too do too many tasks at once extends beyond the confines of Starbucks barristers. There's still the argument they are just 'investing' their time more wisely, continuing the monetary framework.
Regardless, I just want to make you ask yourself, did you fully think through the implications of the phrases and cliches you use?
Life is about timing. Time is limited. Time flies when you're having fun.
There's a lot we say about time and timing. I find the all of the above to be slightly calculative though. There's only so much time. Everything is a trade off. You can do x at the expense of y. It's not that this isn't true. I am like every other high school senior - I would love to be able to freeze time as our November 1st deadlines approach but it's not going to happen. How we approach and view time has it's own implications though. Do we lose site of loving every moment, and embracing "the little things", when we are obsessed with the concept that time is limited?
“Time is too slow for those who wait, too swift for those who fear, too long for those who grieve, too short for those who rejoice, but for those who love, time is eternity.”
-Henry Van Dyke
It's not something to resolve: how to define time? It's something to consider. There are so many layers to such an abstract concept. If you grasp on to one idea too tightly, you might lose sight of something that could prove just as meaningful.
Alyssa! What a fascinating connection for your blog post. I liked your sass, and your analysis at the end really fit in with where I am in my life right now. Your blog is workin' for me. My only question is if you could provide a link for the Freakonomics post you mentioned. I didn't read that post and am not really sure what you're talking about. --Kate H
ReplyDeletethanks for the comments Kate H. :]
ReplyDeleteHere's a link to the blog. For future reference, it's hyper linked to the word 'this' when I first mentioned being inspired by it.
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/18/slowing-down-to-increase-profits/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FreakonomicsBlog+%28Freakonomics+Blog%29&utm_content=Google+Reader
Hey Alyssa,
ReplyDeleteGreat post (and as an avid Freakonomics reader, great connection). I think throughout our society we think of time as money (or a resource), indicated by the simple phrases that we use like: invest/spend your time more wisely, your wasting my time, enough time to spare ect. Its an interesting thing to think about because your view of time does impact your life. I think that opening your mind to different views of time would help people manage their time better (and again with the metaphors). But really, nice thoughtful blog post!
Wow... I was just surfing through blogs when yours caught my eye! I absolutely love this post about time. I always find myself wishing that there was more time in a day, just so I could finish that darn essay due the next day. However, your post made me think about just how much of my life I was going to spend like that. Life is short right? Might as well live it fully!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Navya! I hope you continue to follow my blog.
ReplyDeleteIn more direct regards to your comment, I hope you don't mind me mentioning a philosopher named Friedrich Nietzsche. Some of the actions he justifies may be peculiar, but I think everyone should try to humor the idea he argues, which is essentially to "embrace life as is." I'll go more in depth in my next post, but in the meanwhile, ever heard of "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger?" Yea. That Nietzsche.
I'm sorry for the delayed response. =/