Is Time Really Like a Runaway Train, Getting Faster and Faster as We Age?

Intro

As we age, time seems to slip through our fingers like a runaway train. In the words of outsider songwriter and poet Andrew Neil, “Time is a run-away train……blink after blink time disappears faster and faster” But is this just a state of mind or is there a scientific explanation behind this perception? It’s a question that has baffled many, but as we journey through life, it becomes clearer that time is not just a linear concept. It’s a ride on a never-ending train, where before becomes after and tears can turn into laughter in the blink of an eye. And just like a train, time only stops twice — at the beginning and the end. So, let’s enjoy the ride and make the most out of every stop, because in the end, it’s not about the number of years we have, but the chapters we write along the way. So, hop on board and let’s see where this runaway train takes us.

Listen to Andrew Neil’s song “Run Away Train” on Spotify!!!

The Relativity of Time — A Personal Perspective

Have you ever noticed how, when you’re a kid, the time from one birthday to the next feels like an eternity, but as an adult, birthdays seem to roll around with alarming frequency? That’s the relativity of time from a personal perspective. Einstein might not have been talking about how agonizingly slow time passes during a bad date when he discussed relativity, but the principle somehow applies. To a five-year-old, a year is a whopping 20% of their life, whereas to a 50-year-old, it’s merely 2%. This difference in perception makes time feel like it’s speeding up as we age. Our personal timeline skews as we accumulate more candles on the cake. And let’s not even get started on how time seems to fast-forward during a dream vacation and drags its feet during a workweek. It’s like time has its own mood swings, deciding on a whim whether to sprint or stroll based on our daily experiences. The magic lies in the subjectivity of our experiences with time; it bends and stretches in accordance with our emotions, activities, and, most intriguingly, our age. So next time you feel time speeding up, remember, it’s not just you — it’s a universal roller coaster ride we’re all on together, screaming through the loops and turns of life.

The Fractional Theory — Why Each Year Feels Shorter

Picture this: you’re a bright-eyed, bushy-tailed 5-year-old, and the world is your oyster. A year to you is like a massive, uncharted territory, sprawling and endless. Fast forward a few decades, and suddenly, a year feels like a brisk walk in the park. Welcome to the Fractional Theory, a nifty concept that explains why each year seemingly shrinks as we age. This theory suggests that each year is a smaller fraction of your total life. For instance, to a 10-year-old, one year is a hefty 10% of their life. However, to a 50-year-old sage, it’s a mere 2%. It’s like watching your favorite movie on fast-forward; the scenes zip by, and before you know it, the credits are rolling. As we collect more of these yearly “fractions,” our internal perception of time condenses them, making each subsequent year feel relatively shorter. It’s a fascinating trick of the mind, turning our chronological journey into what feels like a sprint rather than a marathon. So next time you’re marveling at how quickly the year flew by, remember the Fractional Theory and know that it’s not just the world spinning faster — it’s your expansive, experienced life making time feel like a fleet-footed friend.

Novelty and Routine — The Role of New Experiences

Ah, novelty and routine, the dynamic duo of our daily lives. Remember your first bike ride without training wheels? Or the first time you tasted ice cream? Those moments are etched in your memory like your favorite song lyrics. That’s the power of novelty. New experiences are the spices in the banquet of life, making every bite memorable. They act as bookmarks in the pages of our personal history, helping us recall periods of our lives with vivid detail. But as we age, our love affair with routine takes center stage. We find comfort in the familiar — the same coffee brand each morning, the regular route to work, the cozy corner of our favorite café. This isn’t bad; it’s human nature. However, here’s the kicker: routine can make time feel like it’s on a bullet train to the future. When we’re not introducing new experiences into our lives, days blend into one another, and our brain doesn’t have those spicy, novel markers to segment our perception of time. So, the essence of the matter is, to sprinkle your life with a variety of experiences. They don’t have to be grandiose — trying a new recipe, picking up a quirky hobby, or simply taking a different path on your evening walk can serve as delightful speed bumps on the runaway train of time.

The Speed of Processing — Slowing Down with Age

Welcome to the curious world where the mind’s marathon becomes more of a leisurely stroll. As we gracefully slide into our later years, the speed at which we process information tends to take a bit of a siesta. It’s like our mental processors, once the envy of the latest high-speed computers, start to prefer the scenic route. This isn’t to say we’re any less sharp; rather, we’re savoring the moments more, chewing on thoughts and experiences with the wisdom of a fine wine connoisseur. This gentle deceleration in our mental gears has an intriguing side effect on our perception of time. When the brain takes its sweet time processing what’s happening around us, our internal clock seems to tick at a different rhythm. Suddenly, a day packed with new stimuli feels like it’s over in a flash, because, in the time it takes for us to process one delightful experience, a handful of others have zipped by unnoticed. It’s as if life becomes a series of snapshots rather than a continuous video, giving the illusion that time is slipping by at an unforgiving pace. So, while we might be taking longer to process information, it’s this very leisureliness that makes the world around us appear to accelerate.

Emotional Time — The Impact of Happiness and Stress

Diving into the roller coaster that is our emotional world, let’s explore how happiness and stress act as the time benders in our lives. Ever noticed how a day at the beach, basking in joy and sun, seems to flutter by in an instant, while a stressful day at the office drags on like a bad movie? That’s emotional time for you, playing tricks on your perception like a master illusionist. Happiness, with its light and buoyant qualities, seems to make time sprout wings, allowing hours to fly by in a blissful haze. Stress, on the other hand, is like walking through molasses; every tick of the clock is loud, each minute stretched out on a torture rack of anticipation. This peculiar phenomenon is our brain’s way of bookmarking our lives with emotional highs and lows, crafting a narrative that’s anything but monotone. So, in the grand tapestry of time, our emotions are the threads that add color and texture, shaping our journey through the years with the vibrant hues of joy and the stark shades of stress. It turns out, time isn’t just ticking away; it’s dancing to the rhythm of our hearts.

Can We Slow Down the Runaway Train?

Is slowing down the relentless march of time a possibility, or are we just passengers on this unstoppable journey? Perhaps the secret doesn’t lie in hitting the brakes on the runaway train, but in choosing how we experience the ride. It’s about savoring each twist and turn, finding joy in the small moments, and embracing the lessons each station stop offers. While the tracks of time are laid out before us, steering our focus towards mindfulness, gratitude, and the pursuit of passions can transform our perception of the journey. Engaging deeply with our surroundings, cherishing connections with fellow travelers, and allowing curiosity to lead us to new discoveries, are akin to upgrading our seats on this train ride of life. Sure, the landscape outside the window might be a blur, but if we make each conversation, each laugh, and each sunset count, we might just feel like we’re setting the pace, rather than being sped along. So, can we slow down the runaway train? Maybe not. But we can certainly enrich the journey, making every second in transit one of deliberate joy and reflection.

The Illusion of Time — How Our Brains Perceive the Past and Future

Riding along with Andrew Neil’s “Run Away Train,” we’re immersed in life’s symphony, balancing joy and pain. Neil’s song transforms time from a mere measure to a vivid journey we all share, filled with unseen destinations and fleeting encounters. He encapsulates our journey through time, marked by quick hellos and long goodbyes, reminding us that life’s fabric is woven from moments and emotions. Our minds, steering through memories and dreams, craft a narrative that reflects our past and future. In this rhythm of time, we find that endings lead to beginnings, and sorrow can turn into joy. As time speeds up, Neil urges us to cherish our life’s story, highlighting that our experiences shape our path. The train’s whistle, echoing through our highs and lows, tunes us into the melody of life, where we learn that time is but a shared illusion in our grand adventure.

Run Away Train © By Andrew Neil Maternick August 2010

Somebody once said time is on your side
That somebody is probably dead, oh have they lied?
Somebody once said time is on your side
Well in my big ole head, it’s something you ride

Time is run away train
Its cargo is joy and pain
Time is a run away train
It lets one know it does explain

Explain it does
Why it was what it was
Why things are and what will be
Is the journey far to station Free?

The whistle rings lows and highs
The train has wings oh it surely flies
It drums and sings a song that’s truly wise
And it brings hellos and goodbyes

Times a run away train it only stops twice
I’d be insane not to roll the dice
Can not be another grain of rice
In a bowl of vain advice
So

I’ll stop when I drop then go where I go
To the bottom to the top, hope I earn a Bravo
From the One who put the train on the tracks
And the Sun on our backs

Time is run away train
Its cargo is joy and pain
Time is a run away train
It lets one know it does explain

In the train I’ve come to learn before becomes after
And heavy tears can really turn into laughter
Blink after blink time disappears faster and faster
And all the ink of many years writes one chapter

To Learn more about Outsider Songwriter Andrew Neil, and Listen to his Music, Click Here.