French la Vie

 

Have you ever been in a situation where time seems set to a different standard than the 24-hour clock?

The past week spent with Chelsea and her family at our friend's home in Ardeche seemed to pass by quickly. It's perplexing, as time isn't something we can control, yet the sensation was that only a day or two had gone by, not a whole week, The unfathomable speed at which time seemed to tick away.

Our days were filled with simple pleasures; lounging by the pool, tackling manual tasks which Yann and Martin did to assist our friends, enjoying playful moments with the children, and preparing meals in the kitchen. Our happiness here is immeasurable, anchoring us in a reluctance to leave. This place, this expanse, this paradise has a hold on us.

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I read this, and it made sense to explain the phenomenon of time :

" Novelty and Experience: When we're engaged in new and exciting experiences, our brains tend to pay more attention to details, making the time seem to stretch. However, when we're engaged in familiar and routine activities, our brains can process information more efficiently, making time seem to pass quickly.

Attention and Memory: Our perception of time is closely linked to how we form memories. When we're having a great time and fully immersed in an enjoyable experience, we're often not paying as much attention to the passage of time. This can lead to a feeling of time slipping away when we suddenly realize how much time has passed.

Subjective Time vs. Clock Time: Our sense of time is only sometimes aligned with objective clock time. Sometimes we feel that time is dragging because we're waiting for something, while other times, we're so absorbed in an activity that we lose track of time.

Psychological State: Our emotional state can also influence our perception of time. If we're feeling anxious, stressed, or bored, time might seem to move slowly. On the other hand, if we're engaged, excited, or having fun, time might fly by.

Age and Routine: As we get older, we accumulate more routine experiences, making time seem to pass quickly. Children often feel like time moves more slowly because they constantly encounter new and novel experiences.

Temporal Compression: Our brains tend to compress and simplify memories, condensing the feeling of an experience into a shorter period than it was. This can lead to a sense of time passing quickly when we reflect on past events."