Many years ago, a friend asked "How do you visualize time?". I thought it was such an odd question, but the conversation that followed resulted in a very interesting study of the mind. She told me that she saw time as a "time line" that stretched from left to right with events dotted along that line in chronological order. Such as graduation from high school being to the left of graduating college. If someone asked her a question about her past, she automically saw this time line in her head so she could bring something forward to discuss it.
Of course, once she verbalized her visual time line I had to wonder about myself. Did I do anything odd like that without knowing or realizing it? So, I thought about something in my past to see what my thought process was and realized I also had my own mental visualization that I never knew existed. My "time line" doesn't go from left to right, but reaches out like the road ahead, but instead it's really the road behind (although I'm looking forward). The mile markers go backwards in time. So, let's say I'm having a discussion about when I graduated college, the visualization of that time would be further away from me than if I was talking about my wedding day. Like it's further down the road from where I am currently standing.
So, there you have it, two different visualizations of time. I've thought about this conversation on and off throughout the years, but I don't remember having a discussion about it ever again. Therefore, I thought it might be an interesting blog to find out if you also use some sort of visual "time line". If so, I'd love to hear about it!
Of course, once she verbalized her visual time line I had to wonder about myself. Did I do anything odd like that without knowing or realizing it? So, I thought about something in my past to see what my thought process was and realized I also had my own mental visualization that I never knew existed. My "time line" doesn't go from left to right, but reaches out like the road ahead, but instead it's really the road behind (although I'm looking forward). The mile markers go backwards in time. So, let's say I'm having a discussion about when I graduated college, the visualization of that time would be further away from me than if I was talking about my wedding day. Like it's further down the road from where I am currently standing.
So, there you have it, two different visualizations of time. I've thought about this conversation on and off throughout the years, but I don't remember having a discussion about it ever again. Therefore, I thought it might be an interesting blog to find out if you also use some sort of visual "time line". If so, I'd love to hear about it!
22 comments:
This would be a very interesting and deep conversation if it was at a time when I smoked herbs...lol...It is definately a worthy mention now...My time is in blocks. I see things seperate based on events. Pre-High school is block 1, High school - block 2, college - block 3, Job 1, 2, 3, ....you see what I mean. Music will bring out those blocks of time based upon what was popular at the time...like the 80's and rock and roll...so on and so on.
thank you italco! Okay, now we have a line, a road and blocks! Yes, this could be a much deeper and more profound conversation under different circumstances! :-)
Mine is in the number of gray hairs.
this is a very interesting question. my view is kind of odd seeing as how I'm a bit of a hermit. But I see time as an enormous party. The early years are spent preparing and anticipating how great it's gonna be. the middle years are spent at the the party, jumping in the pool, getting drunk, kissing the best looking guys, hanging with your girlfriends, tripping over in the garden, driving to the bottle shop to get more booze......
Next thing you know it's 5:00 am and the party is winding down. It was fantastic despite the accident with the cake and your friend getting arrested. Now it's a cold grey Sunday afternoon, you're slightly hungover and rostered on to work the graveyard shift in a few hours time.....
Rather grim way to see things but this is how it's been for me since Stephen died. In fact, it's been a bit of an obsession, I can't stop viewing life this way, though sometimes I vary the scenario and replace 'party' with 'holiday'
Probably I've revealed too much about my state of mind but the question touched a nerve
I seem to not focus on the past but wonder about my future... my past "time" is just a blob. LOL!1
NM...I hate hearing that. May I ask who Stephen was? I'm so sorry for your loss.
Bear....now I know you didn't have gray hairs back in high school! :-)
M2...but there are times you must think about the past. Like your wedding day and the birth of your daughter!
more like I remember my vacations! like Maui and Vegas!!!
nah, my past is a blob of memorie... not real seperated. Of course I remember little E's birth and everything, but I don't "see" it on a "path" of the "past"...
whoops! Memorie should be Memory...
I actually prefer the 'ye olde' spelling of 'memorie'. It immediately makes me think of a bygone age and seems particularly fitting in the context of this discussion
nursemyra
(((((((((( Hug ))))))))))
xx
For what it's worth - I see the past as a swirling mist.
Most of it is obscured, but occasionally the fog lifts to allow me a brief glimpses of my past life - a small isolated episode, seemingly unconnected with events preceding or following it.
We gray early in my family.
Hmmm... I have no idea how I see the past? but, when I talk about it things seem swirly and jumbled. I tend to jump around, as if my brain is wired to think on 'stream-of-consciousness' mode.. Works perfectly for me but disconcerting for those new to me. so, the I have no idea probably got answered? Drug-induced haze does ring a bell for me as well..... Wait.. did someone mention drugs?
It's funny- when I see time it's a wide strip- my past is behind- and the future is forward-and I have to say the older I get- the faster that wide strip moves!
ann...so true!
“Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana” - Groucho Marx.
Andy...LOL!
Stephen was my lover of eight years, he died from cancer in September 2007. Thanks YnB and duncan xx
NM...I hope your sense of humor has been of some help. Laughter has powerful effects. I am glad I was introduced to your blog, and I hope each day becomes a little bit easier for you.
I don't.
thanks sweet thing
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