From morning until noon, I had an online interview with the Energy Bureau. I had prepared my self-introduction for a long time, but as soon as it started, they went straight to asking me questions, which caught me off guard. It took me a full minute to regain my composure.

I feel like interviews require practice to handle various situations calmly. Still, it was a good experience for me because it highlighted areas where I need improvement.

After the interview, I wanted to lie in bed and rest for a while. Earlier, my dad had asked me to buy a phone for my mom. The delivery driver called around 2 p.m., and since it was a government-subsidized order, I had to go to the Finance Bureau to sign for it in person.

The Redmi Turbo 4 Pro actually feels more premium than my Xiaomi 15, and I ended up playing with it for way too long. I really shouldn’t have…

The carp I bought yesterday turned out terribly cooked, and I felt a bit guilty about it—I had specifically picked the liveliest fish at the store. The tofu from the supermarket was also awful, completely ruining my dish. I ended up separating them, barely managing to finish the fish, and then re-frying the tofu in oil to make it somewhat edible.

After dinner, I took the phone to my mom and spent about an hour setting it up for her before heading back.

It’s already 9:45 p.m. I watched a video by Bi Dao today, which talked about how our lives follow a logarithmic scale. The further we go, the faster time seems to pass. According to the calculations, by the time we’re 18, we’ve already lived half of our perceived lifetime.

Suddenly, I felt a bit panicked—life is already slipping away. How to truly experience and hold onto time might be a topic worth exploring.

Is There a Stop Button for Life? Without relying on any external forces.

On a Saturday evening, I was strolling down the street with my partner when I received a call from my dad: “Your grandmother isn’t doing well. I’m taking leave tomorrow to visit her.” Later that night, my mom also tried to video call me. My phone was on silent, and by the time I noticed the missed call, it was almost 11 PM. When I called back, she didn’t answer.

I dread those few seconds of silence before my parents speak when they call me—it often signals that they’re about to share some unwelcome news. The weight of those moments is palpable, and I’ve received several such calls before. Each time, I’m left at a loss for how to respond.

This time, it was about my grandmother. Strangely, my heart didn’t churn with the usual turmoil, mainly for two reasons: first, my grandmother had been ill for a long time and was already 89 years old; second, I’ve experienced far more sorrowful events, and my interactions with her had been limited.

If the World Were an Animal

I once compared our lives to the process of digestion, with the world as the animal. Whether we’re apples, rice, eggs, beef, water, or anything else, our birth is like entering the mouth of society. We’re broken down, absorbed, and our inherent value is extracted. When we’re deemed worthless, we’re expelled from this societal body.

And just like that, our lives come to an end. But what choices do we have in this process? Upon reflection, quite a few. From the moment we enter the mouth, we can choose to cling to society’s front teeth, or become a fishbone stuck in its gums. Once in the stomach, if it’s unbearable, we might turn into watermelon or scalding hotpot oil to hasten the end of this painful ordeal. Or, adopting a sacrificial approach, we could become sickly sweet beverages, giving our all to inflict ailments like diabetes upon this societal organism…

Of course, these are just fantasies. More often than not, we have no say in what we become. Sometimes, society might not even want to consume us—most “food” is stripped of nutrients and expelled without exception. The silver lining is that whatever consumes us has its own life cycle—it too will fall ill, die, decompose, and be absorbed. After we’re expelled, though our nutrients are gone (nutrients being relative to the society that digested us), we’re actually returning to—or entering—a vaster world, where life continues endlessly.

If this is the truth of life, how should we choose to live? Different people will offer different answers, some of which may work temporarily. Transforming ourselves into toxins might seem impactful, but from the perspective of our ecosystem, the effect is often negligible.

Perhaps the most optimistic attitude is to view this digestive process as a journey. Actively explore, observe, and marvel at the exquisite world our lives create and sustain. Alternatively, quietly completing this journey without overthinking is also a perfectly valid choice.

The Love of Parents

This article has taken so long to finish that I’ve forgotten what this subheading was meant to convey.

Alas!

To be honest, I don’t know how long an hour is. I just think the time is so short. The following is an answer from ChatGPT.

An hour consists of 60 minutes, or 3,600 seconds. It’s a standard unit of time measurement used globally, helping us organize our day into manageable segments. However, our perception of time can vary depending on what we’re doing – an hour of fun might fly by, while an hour of waiting can feel much longer!

Certainly, the scale of time depends on our perception of time. Especially depending on what we’re doing.

From another perspective, the reason why I think time flies is because what I am doing is fun. However, I haven’t found any fun in mylife.

What can we do in an hour?

There’s so much you can accomplish in an hour! Here are just a few ideas:

1. Exercise: You could go for a jog, hit the gym, or do a workout at home.
2. Learn: Spend time learning something new, whether it’s a language, a musical instrument, or a new skill.
3. Read: Dive into a good book or catch up on the news.
4. Create: Work on a creative project like writing, drawing, painting, or crafting.
5. Cook: Prepare a delicious meal or try out a new recipe.
6. Connect: Spend quality time with friends or family, either in person or through a video call.
7. Relax: Practice mindfulness, meditate, or simply take some time to unwind and recharge.
8. Organize: Tackle a small organizing or decluttering task, like cleaning out a closet or sorting through emails.
9. Explore: Take a walk in nature, visit a local museum, or explore your city.
10. Plan: Use the time to plan out your goals, schedule, or upcoming events.

These are just a few possibilities – the options are endless!

Why do I always feel like time is being wasted?

Feeling like time is being wasted can stem from various factors, including personal expectations, goals, and how you perceive productivity. Here are some reasons why you might feel this way:

1. High Expectations: If you have high expectations for yourself or specific goals you want to achieve, you might feel like any moment not spent working towards those goals is wasted time.
2. Comparison: Comparing your productivity or use of time to others can lead to feelings of inadequacy or dissatisfaction, especially if you perceive others as more efficient or successful.
3. Lack of Direction: Not having a clear sense of purpose or direction can make it feel like time is slipping away without accomplishing anything meaningful.
4. Distractions: Constant distractions, such as social media, can make it difficult to focus on tasks or activities that you value, leading to a sense of time wasted.
5. Overcommitment: Overcommitting yourself to too many tasks or obligations can lead to feelings of overwhelm and frustration when you can’t accomplish everything you set out to do.
6. Perfectionism: Striving for perfection in everything you do can make it challenging to feel satisfied with your efforts, leading to a sense of wasted time if tasks don’t meet your high standards.

It’s essential to reflect on why you feel this way and consider whether your expectations align with your values and priorities. Finding a balance between productivity and self-care, setting realistic goals, and practicing mindfulness can help alleviate feelings of wasted time. Remember that it’s okay to take breaks, rest, and enjoy moments of leisure without guilt.

How to put time in perspective? Or what kind of changes can we make?

Putting time in perspective can involve a shift in mindset and approach to how you perceive and utilize time. Here are some changes you can consider making:

1. Set Priorities: Identify your most important goals and values, and prioritize tasks and activities that align with them. This can help you focus your time and energy on what truly matters to you.
2. Practice Mindfulness: Cultivate awareness of the present moment and appreciate the time you have right now. Mindfulness techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing exercises, can help you stay grounded and reduce feelings of time pressure.
3. Set Realistic Expectations: Be realistic about what you can accomplish in a given amount of time. Break larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps, and set achievable goals to avoid feeling overwhelmed or disappointed.
4. Limit Distractions: Identify and minimize distractions that prevent you from using your time effectively. This might involve setting boundaries with technology, creating a dedicated workspace, or scheduling focused work periods with no interruptions.
5. Practice Gratitude: Take time to reflect on and appreciate the moments, experiences, and relationships that bring joy and fulfillment to your life. Cultivating gratitude can help you value and make the most of your time.
6. Schedule Downtime: Incorporate regular breaks and periods of rest into your schedule to recharge and prevent burnout. Recognize the importance of leisure and self-care activities in maintaining overall well-being.
7. Embrace Imperfection: Let go of perfectionism and accept that not everything will go according to plan. Allow yourself to make mistakes, learn from them, and adjust your approach as needed.
8. Focus on the Process: Shift your focus from solely outcomes to the process of engaging in meaningful activities. Enjoy the journey of learning, growing, and experiencing new things, rather than fixating on end results.

By implementing these changes, you can develop a healthier relationship with time and feel more satisfied with how you choose to spend it. Remember that it’s a continuous process, and be patient and compassionate with yourself as you navigate these adjustments.

By samuel Ullman

Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.

Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity of the appetite, for adventure over the love of ease. This often exists in a man of sixty more than a boy of twenty. Nobody grows old merely by a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals.

Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.

Whether sixty or sixteen, there is in every human being’s heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing child-like appetite of what’s next, and the joy of the game of living. In the center of your heart and my heart there is a wireless station; so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage and power from men and from the infinite, so long are you young.

When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism, then you are grown old, even at twenty, but as long as your aerials are up, to catch the waves of optimism, there is hope you may die young at eighty.