Slow down and be more adventurous
Boston, Massachusetts.
Ian Howard photo
Is it just me or, as we get older, doesn't it seem like time moves at warp speed? When I was a child, minutes felt like hours and days felt like weeks. Maybe it was because getting lost in a moment was effortless or, while my parents and teachers managed the hard stuff, I was left to simply play and explore.
Then adulthood comes along and with each passing year, if we aren’t careful, months unfold in blurred clumps until it's already time to ring in another New Year.
The good news is we can do something about this phenomenon.
I enjoy podcasts featuring longevity experts and a recent episode said time moves more quickly for older people because we become less adventurous and too routine as we age. For parents, it's often our children's activities and agendas that keep us moving. Once they are in college or out on their own, many moms and dads become disoriented and bewildered with all the time on their hands. This same thing can happen after retiring from a long-held career. Additionally, aging individuals can be more anxious about trying new things, visiting novel places and being otherwise spontaneous. Similarly, routine tends to rush time along more quickly because every day is the same and there isn’t a range of emotions being felt nor any new neural networks being fired.
All of this hit home this past week as my older son and I traveled to Boston for the New Balance Nationals Indoor track meet. Initially, we were going to visit Boston for the meet then return to North Carolina, but since it was his spring break we decided to make it a lengthier trip. It’d been a while since I’d traveled to a large, urban city without another adult. When I started planning the agenda, booking reservations, making flights and thinking about meals and subway lines, a part of me felt nervous, like I was out of my wheelhouse. The sensation bothered me because in my early 20s, when I had a fraction of the knowledge and wisdom I have now and no cell phone to help with navigation, I backpacked around Europe with not a care in the world.
But therein lies part of the answer.
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When we’re young, the world is our oyster with nothing but possibilities ahead of us. The more life we live and the more years we tick off, we start to think “It’s too late for this” or “I’m getting too old for that.” We have to change this narrative within our minds and the only way to do that is through our actions.
When my sister realized we would be in Boston, which is a quick flight from her hometown of Great Falls, Virginia, she decided to jet over and stay with us for half of our trip. Over two decades ago, she and I went to Boston on one of our annual sister trips. As we frolicked around the city this time, it was mind-boggling we’d allowed so many years to pass before returning.
The track meet was an incredible experience, not only for my son but for me as well. He ran a personal best in the men’s championship two-mile race, which was held at the New Balance Track at Boston Landing, a beautiful facility in a really cool part of the city. Once his event concluded, we were in full tourist mode. With a physical map of the city and our phones to assist us, we figured it all out. We traipsed around the entire footprint of Boston, saw all the famous sites, ate great food and made memories. Additionally, it was St. Patrick’s Day weekend and the Irish spirit in the air was palpable, which made the atmosphere extra energizing.
By the last day, we were navigating the subway system like pros and chatting about the various sections of the city with ease. When boarding the plane to head home, I felt proud of myself. If my son’s meet would not have given me a reason to visit Boston, would I ever have done it myself? Would I have planned a spontaneous trip to such a historical, fun and friendly city? I don’t know, but it did prove the research correct. Galavanting around Beantown made me feel more youthful and adventurous than I’d felt in a while and ignited that old travel bug that was so active in my youth.
It doesn’t have to be a big trip or crazy adventure to help slow down time. Merely learning a skill or taking on a new hobby or challenge can do the same thing to the brain. Anything novel, unique or different from our comfort zone stretches out time. With this in mind, why not book the flight or do that thing you’ve been itching to do? Not only will it remind you of your younger self, but it will give more life to your years, and isn’t that the goal of this one wild and precious life? I certainly think so.
(Susanna Shetley is a digital media specialist, editor and writer who lives in Waynesville. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..)
