Many people notice something strange as they grow older. Time seems to move faster. Weeks disappear. Months fly by. Entire years pass before we fully realize it. As children, a single summer felt endless. Waiting for a birthday felt like waiting forever. As adults, however, time appears to accelerate. The reason is not that time itself is moving faster. The difference lies in how we experience it. When we are young, everything feels new. New schools. New friendships. New discoveries. New experiences. Our minds pay close attention because unfamiliar experiences demand attention. As life becomes more routine, many days start looking similar. The same commute. The same schedule. The same responsibilities. The same surroundings. Because fewer things feel new, our brains create fewer memorable markers. As a result, time feels compressed. This is why a year in adulthood can seem shorter than a year in childhood. The solution is not necessarily to stay busy. In fact, being busy often makes time feel even faster. The solution is to stay curious. Learn something new. Visit unfamiliar places. Try different experiences. Meet new people. Challenge yourself occasionally. Novel experiences create stronger memories, and stronger memories make life feel fuller. Perhaps that is one of life's most important reminders. The goal is not simply to add more years to life. The goal is to add more life to those years. Because time will continue moving forward regardless. What matters is making sure the journey feels meaningful while it happens.
