Growing Old: A Thrilling Adventure

Growing old is often depicted as a depressing and lonely time, but I like to think of it as a thrilling adventure. Sure, our bodies may not work as well as they used to, and death is a looming presence on the horizon. But growing old also brings wisdom, perspective, and the opportunity to reflect on the life we’ve lived.

One thing that many people experience as they grow older is that time seems to speed up. It’s a common refrain that “the older you get, the faster time goes by.” But why does this happen?

One possible explanation is the psychological phenomenon known as the “proportion of life lived” effect. Essentially, this means that as we age, a larger proportion of our lives has already passed, so the remaining time feels shorter in comparison. To use a mathematical example, if you are 20 years old and have lived 20% of your life, then one year is equivalent to 5% of your life. But if you are 80 years old and have lived 80% of your life, then one year is only equivalent to 1.25% of your life. This can make the passage of time feel much faster.

Of course, this is just one possible explanation, and the perception of time is a complex and multifaceted topic. But it’s something to consider as we navigate the adventure of growing old.

Another thing that tends to change as we age is our relationship with death. When we’re young, death is an abstract concept that seems far removed from our daily lives. But as we get older, we start to see people we know and love pass away, and…