When most of us think about time we picture the past behind us and the future ahead of us, but there are some that when asked about their past point forward, seemingly because they can see the past. For them the future is coming from their blind side; (behind them). According to studies this perspective leads to less worries about the future and the ability to smile through adversity (good cheer), but whether it is the future (quickly) sneaking up from behind and flowing past, or this flow of time is carrying us forward into the future, it seems most perspectives are analogous to a stream (water) that moves without end. Even definitions of Time revolve around the central idea that time is motion; and if you consider how we define time in everyday activities and discussions it is typically in terms of events that have happened or that we project will happen as we are carried forward by time. It is very difficult to measure time when nothing happens which is perhaps one reason why it is associated so closely with movement.
These perspectives, analogies, and definitions are very interesting, but I don't see them leading us to more frequent or longer-lasting moments of Happiness. I acknowledge many greater minds regarding the study of 'Time' so the argument I am about to put forth is strictly theoretical for the purpose of advancing Happiness. It is simply an alternative perspective that may help to balance past, present, and future with our search for meaning and our desire to catch that occasional, fleeting glimpse of True Happiness.
I propose that we look at 'Time' as if it is a stationary line and we are moving (sideways) along it. Imagine standing with your arms raised to shoulder height (parallel/level with the line of your shoulders and perpendicular to your body) and extended outwards, respectively, to your right and to your left. Now look 90 degrees to your right down the length of your outstretched arm and imagine a line of time extending further than you can see - into your future. Now look 90 degrees to your left and imagine a line of time extending from your outstretched fingers further than you can see - into your past. Remember, this line is stationary and you are shuffling sideways to your right, into your future. Directly in front of you is the present. In this scenario you can choose to focus more on the present (looking straight ahead), the past (looking hard to your left), or the future (looking hard to your right), or perhaps (wait for it ...) you will choose to utilize your peripheral vision and account for all three. What a concept! To not get caught up in the past or worry about the future, but to live 'in' the moment - not 'for' the moment but 'IN' the moment while applying past learning and keeping an eye on the future. This can lead to more frequent and longer-lasting moments of Happiness because you will be more aware of your 'moments' as you move along in front of them.
Now let's add an additional, explanatory twist to this model; literally. Imagine this never-ending, stationary line of time actually curving and angling slightly downwards in ever-widening concentric circles. This cone-shaped helix could actually spiral upward as easily as downward, if that is your preference. You are moving sideways to your right as previously described, facing inward towards the axis or center of the cone. The further you move along this line of time of course, the more open space in front of you (ever-widening circles) which corresponds to an increase in potential entropy, which in turn is a common descriptive characteristic of Time. You may at first think that the helical shape is not consistent with learning from the past because you can no longer see any of the past except that which is most immediate; but if you really think about it, that is all we typically see anyway. We rely on our memories which study after study has shown to be an unreliable measure of reality. And of course we have never been able to see the future (even the immediate future) with any certainty. So this cone-shaped spiral is actually a more accurate representation of reality than a straight line. You can still turn your eyes to focus on the past or the future, or use your peripheral vision to balance them with the present, but we are qualifying this model by stating that the open space in front of us filled with present moments/events is so vast that we cannot see across to the line of time that has circled around directly across from and slightly below us; (or above if it is more pleasing for you to be spiraling upward). This model also accounts for the unknown behind us, meaning at our backs; (in terms of this unknown we are making the following assumptions: 1) you must always face directly inward towards the axis; and 2) you cannot turn your eyes more than 90 degrees in either direction; and 3) there are no mirrors, or eyes in the back of your head). With these assumptions in place, there is a lot of room outside of this helix for a lot of 'unknown', which also reflects reality. To summarize, this helix model is more advantageous to Happiness (as a mental representation of Time) than the straight line model because it keeps us closer to reality by taking up less three-dimensional space, which provides even more control.
Additionally, since time is stationary we can create the circumstances necessary for time to seemingly stand still. Keeping this helix model in mind, it is a matter of stretching a moment by giving it our undivided attention and pulling it along with us as we shuffle sideways. Though we must eventually let it go, there are many moments with considerable elasticity. Think about a time when you have been in a 'flow' state and time just disappeared; a time when you were working on something and knew the hour and minute you started, then when you next looked at a clock two or three hours were gone. Essentially, you had stopped time. That 'event' became 'one moment' that stayed with you for two or three hours. It happens to me every week when I write a new post.
This perspective also supports our premise that Happiness can only be momentary in that most 'moments' pass by so quickly, leading to the next moment/event; and that next moment/event will always contain an unpredictable and (to an extent) uncontrollable mix of Dark and Light. Recognizing this Reality will allow us (like those who believe the future rushes past them from behind) to react favorably to adversity, and at the same time it will encourage us to behave in the moment for the future; behave in a way that is conducive to inner peace and exoteric goodness.
More than 25 years ago Joyce Carol Oates said, "Time is the element in which we exist. We are either borne along by it, or drowned in it."
A couple of years ago, feeling some pressures of time, I wrote the following Pantoum:
I'm drowning in torrential time
I'm carried by the current's flow
A deluge full of grit and grime
The rapids come, the rapids go
I'm carried by the current's flow
I seldom know what's up ahead
The rapids come, the rapids go
The rapids leave a sense of dread
I seldom know what's up ahead
Perhaps a slow meandering
The rapids leave a sense of dread
It seems I've been philandering
Perhaps a slow meandering
To stabilize my self esteem
It seems I've been philandering
Though merely caught up in the stream
To stabilize my self esteem
It often seems so uncontrolled
Though merely caught up in the stream
A past and future, wet and cold
It often seems so uncontrolled
A deluge full of grit and grime
A past and future, wet and cold
I'm drowning in torrential time
These perspectives of drowning and being carried along are potentially damaging and unfortunately prevalent. We don't have to drown, nor do we have to just go along for the ride. Be aware, use your vision, and extend your moments.
