THE PARADOX
The truth about the concept of time has fascinated, teachers, mathematicians, geologists, artists, philosophers, scientists, and poets for many centuries. To some, time is a relentless force or energy; to others, it is a fleeting resource that needs to be managed, and to a few, an illusion that is not true. But what if time were not absolute? What if, like Barry Allen in The Flash movie, you could move faster than the speed of time itself. Would time still be the same? This question runs through every page of my mind as I write this beautiful sci-fi write-up.
We have all watched the legendary Flash movie where he runs at the speed of light to the extent that time becomes slow. I earlier made a post about how I perceive the universe as a continually expanding entity where everything in time and space is falling into an endless pit. That was only my assumption.
Great philosophers debate time during their time. Plato sees time is a moving image of eternity. To me, it shows that time is not stopping. Additionally , I love the way he defines it as a moving image. That's like a video that never stops.
Oh! Heraclitus.
Favorite Heraclitus....
I resonate with Heraclitus' believe of time as a constant. He sees time as rigid and unchanging. It tells us that one cannot step into the same river or pool twice. Parmenides believes time is an illusion. He thinks time is eternal and unchanging. Parmenides' definition gives us a better understanding of the former.
My favorite movie, Prince of Persia, indicates that Prince Dastan and Tamina's fates are intertwined, even after time alteration. The movie ends by indicating that some lives are linked across time, connected by an ancient calling that echoes through the ages. This talks about destiny rather than luck in the journey of time.
Another point, my friends and fellow readers is that if time slows and you are moving at a speed even greater than light, would you be seen? I feel that you would be grasped by light forever. If time slows down for you, doesn't mean you have transcended it, or simply altered your experience of it.
I searched every corner of my hippocampal region, the CA1, 2 and 3. The only answer was Einstein.
The theory of time dilation by Einstein can't be totally forgotten. It really works.
I believe time is both real and perceived. If we could manipulate our speed within it, time wouldn’t change—only our relationship with it would.
In short, there is a difference between perceived time and real time. Children perceive a day, 24hours, as a really long time while adults feel that it is too short.
So...
Spacetime is the stage;
perceived time is the play.
One is ruled by gravity’s hand,
the other by memory’s sway.
Physicists should have heard about the Doppler effect of sound, where sound is relative to the observer’s location. The two scenerios that comes in mind; one for a stationary observer and another for a moving observer, like in a car race using a honking horn as an analogy. This is similar to time relativity.
Albert Einstein said that time is relative. He added that time's worth depends upon what we do as it is passing. His theory of relativity tells us that time is not a fixed entity. It is affected by both speed and gravity. you could run at near-light speed like the Flash, time would appear frozen or static. The brain’s functions would be faster than time it self. .☺️
Hmmmm!! This isn’t just science fiction, because astronauts on the ISS experience time slightly slower than people on Earth. So, if you could control your speed within time, you’d essentially be playing with relativity itself.
Another part of me accepts the concept of time travel because of these ideas. However, it’s mind-bending to consider that time isn’t universal. If we could harness this ability of speed control our speed, would we become time travelers in our own right? Or would we just be proving that time was never as rigid as we thought?
Delving to a more poetic version of time. I know that many of us have watched the movie Frozen, where memory / emotions was said to harness water. Similarly, poets view time through emotion and memory. Alice Walker said, thar time moves slowly, but passes quickly.
How time flies 😉...
Poets and artists see time through emotion.
A minute in pain mimics the effect of an hour in hell, while an hour in joy feels like a second in heaven.
Some might say that altering time’s flow would rob life of its meaning. I tell you, struggles and patience shapens us. Just imagine the time you spend with your lover, your mom, or your dad. Controlling time would make us appreciate these moments less. We would feel like tomorrow is a thousand years away—or that tomorrow never finishes. Everyday is Christmas party 🎉 🥳 🥳. The beauty of life lies in its impermanence. If we could manipulate time, would we still cherish it?I don’t think so.
Have you watched the movie The Old Guard? When the Nigerian lady found out she could live forever, immortality felt like a curse. To some, living forever seems desirable, but time makes the difference. Watching everyone you love die before you is torture. That’s why even the Old Guard themselves struggled with it.
Time is a resource.
Time is money.
Time is life.
Benjamin Franklin once said, "You may delay, but time will not." Modern life is obsessed with time management. Time is life,time is wealth and it doesn't wait for anyone. We track hours, optimize schedules, and fight procrastination. But if you could move at the speed of time, would productivity even matter?
If I could finish a day's work in what feels like seconds, or stretch a single minute into hours of productivity, would this be the ultimate efficiency hack? Or would it make us lazy, knowing we could "cheat" time whenever we wanted?
Time is a scalar quantity—a paradox. It's a measurable scientific phenomenon, a philosophical mystery, and an emotional experience all at once. If we could move through it at will, would we master it, or would it master us in new dimension.
Procrastination wastes your time, effort, and energy. Don’t quit. Don’t give up.* Procrastination is a ticking bomb. However; I’ve been swimming in the pool of procrastination until reality forced me out with echoes of "No food for a lazy man."
My advice for you is that what you want to do—do it quick. Not tomorrow. Not "next time." If a shortcut exists, take it. Procrastination kills destiny.
The Bible helps us understand that the Creator God answers all our prayers in due season. There is time for everything. Jesus used the parable of the talents and many others to teach us how we can use our gifts wisely.
Do not drift in time, nor let time drift you away.
Anchor in purpose.
Sail with intention.
I'm Ariyo Joseph Ayobamidele — nature observer, anatomy learner, science thinker. I write and draw to process the world. Heading into medicine and surgery. Self-sponsored through Hive and block chain technologies. My word for you is "Curiosity causes growth — and your support adds value." 🔬✍️