The Treasure Hunt

If it's possible to have fun while at work... then, for several minutes this morning I did. And, I seldom do that at work: other than when I try to entertain myself by people watching? But, that's another story.

Anyway, a lady came in within five minutes of my clocking in this morning (about 6:45 am) and she wanted two different installs. Naturally whenever you have to spend some time with someone you usually end up talking about other things besides what they are purchasing. So, I was filling out the contract and as I wrote in the date I realized how late it already was into another year (and of course our last one... don't forget the Mayans) and I suppose I gave a little shake of my head. (She asked me if anything was wrong?)

I told her, "No," it was just that it seemed like only yesterday that I was filling out these same contracts and it was May, and now it's already July. I told her according to that by the day after tomorrow it will be December again. She laughed and I decided to tell her about Einstein, and a few other theorists and their ideas about time?

She seemed nice and genuinely interested, and she let me go on for quite awhile. So, I finished by reminding her that according to Einstein those of us who live in Jeffersonville, Indiana are approximately 400 feet higher above sea level than those who live in Jacksonville. So, if he and other like minded physicists are correct... we could fractionally increase our life span by moving and living near the ocean? That is because time passes quicker for those who live in higher elevations? I know... physicists!

After I finished she said she wanted to ask me a question, as long as I didn't take it the wrong way? I assured her she could say anything she wanted and I would not be bothered at all. She asked me if I knew those things... and could talk that way... what was I doing working at .....? I started laughing and then she did as well.

I told her the same thing I have told everyone else who has ever asked me that question. I told her to end up where I'm at, and at this late stage of my life is testament to the fact that I have made a lot of very bad decisions in my lifetime! We both laughed again.

In reality I do not mean to denigrate the company where I work... and I also told her that. I said that they have been nice to me and they compensate me fairly for the work that I do. Anyway, it was a fun 10-15 minutes discussing different theories with her this morning. That conversation started me thinking about a more realistic way to "increase everyone's life span" rather than living at sea-level. In addition, a person would have to live for millions of years near or at sea level before any fractional difference could ever be known anyway... and that is if their theories are correct in the first place?

But, recently I have been reading some interesting ideas from three different people... Draaisma, Boyd, and Zimbardo. And I think there really is some practical advice in what these three write, and I want to pass that along to all of you.

There does seem to be a paradox that time really changes for us depending upon what it is that we are doing. Example: think of a person that you have really loved in your lifetime. Are you thinking of that person now? Okay, if you are reading this and are married... and the person who first entered your heart and mind is your spouse: then, my friend... you are in the best of all worlds! (That has nothing to do with my little test but I wanted all of you who just thought of your spouses to know how very lucky in life you have been.)

Okay, here is the test. The person you just thought about, the last time you were with them... did time "fly-by" and you couldn't imagine it was already time to separate? Have you ever spent time talking to a true-love and day changes to night... or night to day and the hours passed as if mere minutes? Even though you might have spent hours with them... it passed too quickly! Of course, that is perception simply because you love what you have been doing... which is being with that person.

Now, think of a very unpleasant person you recently had to spend time with... NOW, NOW, if the person you are thinking of is your spouse... well, you, my friend, are in big trouble! Anyway, that person you were with or that hateful task that you did might have only taken minutes... but it seemed like hours? Well, according to the men I mentioned they might have a reasonable answer for you and a way to make your life more enjoyable. I think it makes sense if you try to think of it like this. If you truly try to live in the moment... actually experiencing life, and not living on auto-pilot, as new memories are stored life will begin to stretch out before you... even as it did when you were a child. (That's why it doesn't bother me when Deb derides me for still acting like a kid... that's my excuse. lol)

I probably can't, in a few words, do justice to what they teach, but I'll try. Basically they suggest that your life seems to stretch out forever when you are young... because you are experiencing everything for the first time: all is fresh with new memories. They believe that is why first loves, first jobs, first few days of a vacation, etc. etc. etc. seem to go by more leisurely and relaxed, slower if you will. However, once a routine takes over and everything is done by rote and no new memories are being made or stored... then "life flies by."

That... is the paradox! Be with the one you love while experiencing new and fun things and time itself will "fly" ... yet, "life" will be stretched out before you and seem to last longer!

But, do routine and boring things without new memories... and "time" will drag, but, one day you will see that "life" has flown by! The way you will see that is one day it is March, and the next day it will be June. 

So, get out of your rut, and start making new memories: keep things fresh and different. You might try changing your office routine, so it is not the very same thing day after day. Shop in a different store, or change the way that you shop in your own. Change what it is that you "always do" at home. Take a new lover... OKAY, OKAY, I thought that if I made my list long enough I could slip that one in unnoticed? (I'm only teasing about that last one, don't really do that!) I now suspect I know what the topic of next Sunday's sermon might be? However, the joke is on them, because I won't be there anyway... I'll be doing school work (:

To any and all who might read this... have a relaxing and pleasant evening by finding some way to make new memories. Of course, as you are doing that occasionally think of me as I will be beginning on my school work just as soon as I hit, "publish." Then this evening, because it is a hateful and repetitive task I will be doing, over the course of the next 6-7 hours... well, I'll probably be about 60 years old when I quit all of this later tonight.