I can Google physical symptoms without getting all hypochondriacal, but when I read about mental illness, I end up wondering if I know anyone sane – including me. For instance, a tendency towards jokiness and the telling of puns runs in my family. Perhaps we have all got a touch of Witzelsucht, a brain disorder that, in one case at least, transformed a lifelong wallflower into the “life of the party.” I had no idea that being happy for no good reason could be pathological, although I’ve often been told to, “wipe that silly grin off your face.”
Then there’s Alien Hand Syndrome, a disorder causing a person to think that one of their hands has taken on a life of its own. I don’t think I have this issue, although my pal, Woofmutt, blogged about doing this intentionally to stave off boredom. (If you only click on one link in this post, click on Woofmutt’s, ‘cuz it’s funny stuff.)
Good thing boredom is not fatal, or none of us would have survived our childhoods. Remember how long 20 minutes was when you were 8-years-old? You’d ask your mom when you were going to leave the house, and she’d say, “soon.” You’d press her for specifics and she’d say, “Soon, honey. Twenty minutes or so,” and you’d just about die of boredom from having to wait so long.
I would love to be able to feel time again in that way, minus the boredom, of course. But wouldn’t it be luxurious to have days pass more slowly? What is it – exactly – that makes time whiz by so quickly for adults? I don’t mind the rest of my insanity, but I’d like to do away with my time disorder. Anyone else suffer from this? If so, have you found any cures?
Tui Snider is an author, speaker, and photographer who specializes in North Texas travel, cemetery symbols, and haunted lore. As she puts it, “I used to write fiction – but then, I moved to Texas!”
Snider’s best-selling books include Paranormal Texas , Understanding Cemetery Symbols, and 100 Things to Do in Dallas - Fort Worth Before You Die.
Snider has several more books in progress, and enjoys connecting with writers and readers all over the globe through social media, her newsletter and her website: TuiSnider.com.
Time is certainly a weird thing, isn’t it? Especially, when it is kept by clocks. One hour waiting in a waiting room seems like an eternity, yet one hour spent with a good friend just enjoying some good conversation ends way too soon and seems way too short. I have no real ideas of why time seems to whiz by so quickly when we are older. Probably because our days get fuller and fuller of things to do. I think that is why even kids these days notice how fast time goes. Our days are so full of things to do and places to go. Some days there is barely enough time to do all that we want to do. My work week goes by so fast sometimes I can’t believe it’s already my weekend again. Everything seems to be in a time crunch. At times it makes me wish for the simpler life I had when I was young. No one used the telephone unless they were at home. No one checked their email. If you had a friend from far away it took days to get correspondence back and forth unless you could afford long distance telephone. Time is so relevant to the things we do and things that are going on around us and everything just seems to speed by these days. I Love the days when I am doing things (like making marmalade) where I am by myself and have no where to go and no time constraints. Those are the days most like the long days of my childhood.
Stopping by to say hello and say thanks for keeping my blog warm. Things have been hectic at work. And I’ve got multiple projects going on. But it’s all good!
no cures from me, Tui, but i sure enjoy your posts! And FINALLY i know what the NaBlo is from reading yesterday’s. And what a weird ad on the back of the truck for rubbed butt!
I think time feels like it goes faster because we’ve lived so much longer. When we were 8, 20 minutes was long because we only had a total of 8 years of life experience. And now, for me I’ve lived more than 6 times eight, so proportionately 20 minutes is that much teenier…
Hi Gail: It feels great to know you check out my blog! Yeah, I see lots of odd things here in Texas. Interesting theory you have on the time scenario. I’m gonna have to mull that one over! Thanks again for stopping by. Ciao bella! :) ~Tui