Last Saturday, we drove to Nyack, a small village with a population of just over 7,000 in upstate New York. We spent the day exploring the area and had lunch at a Himalayan Tibetan Momo restaurant—our first time trying this cuisine. During our meal, we engaged in a brief conversation with the restaurant owner, who came to the United States in 2009.
This short day trip felt like a refreshing break from our otherwise monotonous daily routine. The experience, being a departure from our usual activities, brought in a sense of freshness and comparison.
The trip also brought to mind Claudia Hammond's book Time Warped: Unlocking the Mysteries of Time Perception and the questions it raises: Why does life seem to speed up as we age? Time appears to accelerate as we grow older because, with the passage of years, we encounter fewer and fewer new experiences—unless we consciously seek them out, like our day trip to Nyack.
For many, a routine life often feels like this: looking back over the past five years, it might seem as though nothing memorable happened beyond the daily cycle of work, home, meals, and sleep. Days, months, and years blur together, leaving little to remember. Naturally, it feels as if time is flying by, devoid of novelty, surprise, and excitement.
One way to slow down time is by embracing new experiences and creating our own surprises. The more varied and unique our experiences, the more time seems to stretch out and slow down.
A Chinese saying, 行万里路，读万卷书 (Xíng wàn lǐ lù, dú wàn juǎn shū), meaning: "Travel ten thousand miles, read ten thousand books." This saying emphasizes the value of new experiences and knowledge in enriching one's life and slowing down the perception of time. Each journey taken and each book read brings with it a sense of wonder and novelty, making life more memorable and fulfilling.
Finally, it is about creating and retaining the richness and freshness of our experience. By seeking out new experiences and stepping off the beaten path, we can add depth, surprises and novelty to our days and savor the moments that might otherwise slip away unnoticed. After all, life is as full as we make it, and time is only as fleeting as we allow it to be.