Why Time Flies as We Get Older: A Reflection on Mortality and Life

As we go through life, one of the things that inevitably becomes more and more apparent is our own mortality. The realization that we have a limited time on this earth can be both terrifying and humbling, and it can change the way we approach our relationships, our work, and our overall outlook on life.

For me, this realization has become even more pronounced as I have entered my middle-aged years. I was always used to being the youngest guy in the office, the baby of the bunch, but now I find myself in a different role as a father and provider. Time seems to be moving faster than ever before, and I often find myself wondering where the years have gone.

Perhaps this is a feeling that you can relate to as well. Maybe you too have noticed that as you get older, time seems to fly by at an alarming rate. It’s a phenomenon that has fascinated me for years, and I recently came across an infographic by Maximilian Kiener that beautifully illustrates why time seems to speed up as we grow older.

The infographic is based on a simple mathematical concept: the older we get, the less time we have left in proportion to the rest of our lives. At five years old, a year represents 20% of our entire existence, which is a significant amount of time. But as we get older, that percentage starts to shrink, and a year begins to feel shorter and shorter.

What struck me about this infographic is that it put into words and numbers something that I had felt intuitively for a long time. Time really does seem to move faster as we get older, and it’s not just something in our heads. Knowing this gives us a new perspective on how we spend our time and how we prioritize the things that are truly important to us.

So, what does this mean for how we live our lives? Personally, I think it means that we need to make the most of each and every day. We should love harder, hug longer, and appreciate the simple things in life. We should try not to hold grudges or waste time on things that don’t matter in the grand scheme of things. We should be grateful for the time we have and make the most of it.

Of course, this is easier said than done. We all have obligations and pressures that can distract us from what’s truly important. But I think that taking the time to reflect on our mortality can be a powerful motivator to live our lives to the fullest. We only get one shot at this life, and we should make it count.

In conclusion, the realization that time flies as we get older can be a difficult one to grapple with. But it’s also a reminder to make the most of each and every day, to cherish the people we love, and to prioritize the things that truly matter. We may not be superheroes with immortality, but we have something even more precious: the time we have right now. Let’s make it count.