One night recently I was without my bedroom clock. Because I'm not on any schedule I didn't think too much about it, until I turned out the lights and realized I didn't know what time it was.
How strange it was to lie in my bed, in the dark with no way to tell time. I realized how much time rules our lives. Every room in our house has a clock in it - except the bathrooms. The kitchen actually has three clocks -- the one on the wall, the one on the stove and the one on the microwave. Our respective study and studios have one on the wall and the time on our computers.
There I lay feeling as if I'd gone into a delightful abyss - of timelessness. Did I feel adrift in a bad way or did I feel free? Of course I felt free -- but it was also a bit intimidating. It was almost as if I were the last person on a silent earth.
Is time actually the thing that gives importance to my days? Its lunchtime - must eat - its time to take pills - its time to go pick up the mail. My life seems ruled by TIME. I then realized that time is really what holds a society together. It wouldn't function at all if everyone was wandering around heedless of time. How would we know when to meet -- how would we know when to be at work. Time is sort of the contract we have as humans.
Maybe someday I'll cover all the clocks, close down all the computers, and see what it is like to really 'float' in time.
"The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." - Albert Einstein
I look at my watch or at a clock and don't even register the time! They provide something by just being there, but at the same time (?), the specific hour doesn't compute unless I have something that has to be done or somewhere to be. Love the beautiful timepieces and the quote.
ReplyDeleteTimeless - a very good way to be, I think. Although for the sanity of others, only in short doses!
ReplyDeleteThis post touches on so many things I've been feeling about being a slave to industrial inventions and high tech times (said while making note of the fact that I'm on a computer). I thought how I want to go back in a time machine before all this stuff took over our lives. Then I started counting clocks in our house, there are at least 16, even in one bathroom. That one ticks and always makes me think the water is dripping.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I have ever thought a lot about time, except when I am running late. Love those time piece photos.
ReplyDeleteI love having two days a week where I'm not ruled by the 'ticking tyrant' but I feel quite anxious if I can't find out almost immediately what the actual time is. Interesting...
ReplyDeleteLots to think about here. Being retired, we would like to think we aren't slaves to the clock. But we actually are, even though we don't want to be. We never let the clock dictate when we eat, but we must be on time for appointments, be aware of the time places are open and when they close, make it to the early bird specials..all that. For the record, I need the clock at night to see how long I have been tossing and turning!
ReplyDeleteXx, Carol
Lots to think about here. Being retired, we would like to think we aren't slaves to the clock. But we actually are, even though we don't want to be. We never let the clock dictate when we eat, but we must be on time for appointments, be aware of the time places are open and when they close, make it to the early bird specials..all that. For the record, I need the clock at night to see how long I have been tossing and turning!
ReplyDeleteXx, Carol