Let me tell you about time. Yesterday knowledge was dropped regarding the SYC (school year cycle).
But, some of you, no doubt, are out of school, work for a living (now there is a concept) or just don't plain care about the SYC. "Why did I waste my time reading this adolescent bullshit?", you wonder. Here is why.
The SYC gives structure, albeit arbitrary, frustrating and depressing, structure to time. The year is broken up into modes or periods filled with different practices, expectations and celebrations (back to school dances, football games, Winter vacation, etc.). As students, we go on and on through the cycle year after year. As a kid you get so sick of it--you want it to be over--to never have to go to school again.
But, once in the real world, away from the vicious SYC, then what? What does time have for us then? This is where our postmodern dilemma finds its root. For outside of the arbitrary framework of the SYC we find no means by which to structure time which can definitively and collectively give it meaning.
What the hell am I talking about? Let me explain.
Time: far from definitive, it is defined by what we put into it. So, time filled with content that produces joy, ecstasy and happiness seems short--it is precious and valuable, ferociously wrestled away from us with no recompense. Christmas morning, birthdays, wedding days, and reading Onitezschte's blog. How many times have you simply not wanted something to end? Time filled with negative, dreary, painful content seems to last longer. Why won't it end? Dentist appointments, enema's, and athlete's foot. You ever "killed" time at a bus stop or in a foreign place? Killing time? Really, people, think about it, KILLING (THE ACT OF ENDING MURDEROUSLY) TIME?!. Now that is telling.
But, we still haven't gotten to the point. BEAR WITH ME. There is no grand structure to time any longer. So, YOUR LIFE--YOU--YOUR FUTURE--YOUR DESTINY--YOUR YEARS AHEAD--are given without parameter, without demand, without destiny. Before, in other ages and what seems like in far off galaxies--time was structured by forces such as family, Church and State which informed us what time meant. Thus, when childhood was officially over (circumcision anyone), when to have babies (how does 13 sound?), when to celebrate (Harvest, etc.), when to mourn, when to worship, when to consider ourselves old.
NOT NOW. We have come of age--entered freedom--stricken the fetters of external authority! YES. Now what?
Every moment is yours. Every second represents the opportunity--the grand potential--to experience self-transcendence in an adrenaline rush related to relationships, power, sex, etc. We have the internet, entertainment technology, news, newspapers, blogs, etc.; we have every moment at our fingertips to fill with whatever our heart desires. The days and week and months and years are arbitrary.
Pregnant at 60? Go for it. Living at home until 40? Sure. When to grow up? When to grow down (any empty nesters out there)? When to marry? When to retire? Maybe neither? Babies? Maybe not. Marriage? Maybe not again. 40 is the new 30 and 50 isn't far behind. LIFE! YES, WE CAN LIVE!
But, the cost is a lost of both past and future. Senses of where we have been and where we are going are lost in the rush to suck the contents of every moment dry of every last possible content they can provide ME--adrenaline, entertainment, rush, excitement, happiness, FEELING GOOD. Tell me the news stories from a week ago? A month? Remember? Why? And what? Tomorrow? Next century? Why? What? I have got precious seconds to transcend my-self through technology, food, and cyber-relationships. No time for anything but now.
So, working, slaving away in cubicles, meetings, paperwork and conferences--we wait, we wish, we long--for the weekend, for that grand two weeks of vacation a year, for lunchtime, for tonight, for the moments we can sneak away on the internet at work.
Yes, "timeless time (Castells)" is upon us as eternity and present have become one since history and future have become superfluous.
I love living.
Keep it real,
1 comment:
two things you have forgotten. the first are sports seasons. for some this adds a sense of anticipation for so and so month, and also an emotional cycle of its own through spring training (training camp, or whatever) all the way to the playoffs.
second, the church calendar still exists, although most dont know it. but advent on its way to christmas, lent on its way to easter, and even the culmination in trinity (or whatever season it may be) provides emotional structure.
and even a throwaway; we grew up in a seasonless climate. but for most, as i am sure you are finding out, seasons can do a lot for providing organization to time. love, etc.
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