"Imagine a world in which people live just one day. Either the rate of heartbeats and breathing is sped up so that an entire lifetime is compressed to the space of one turn of the earth on its axis - or the rotation of the earth is slowed to such a low gear that one complete revolution occupies a whole human lifetime. Either interpretation is valid. In either case, a man or woman sees one sunrise.
In this world, no one lives to witness the change of the seasons. A person born in December never sees the leaves of the maple turn red and gold, never hears the crickets. A person born in December lives his life cold. Likewise, a person born in July never feels a snowflake on their cheek, never sees the crystal on a frozen lake, never hears the squeak of boots on fresh snow. A person born in July lives their life warm. The variety of seasons is learned about in books.
In this world, a life is planned by light. A person born at sunset spends the first half of their life in nighttime, learns indoor trades like weaving or watchmaking, reads a great deal, becomes intellectual, eats too much, is frightened of the vast dark outdoors, cultivates shadows. A person born at sunrise learns outdoor occupations like farming and masonry, becomes physically fit, avoids books and mental projects, is sunny and confident, is a afraid of nothing.
Both sunset and sunrise babies flounder when the light changes. When sunrise comes, those born at sunset are overwhelmed by the sudden sight of trees and oceans and mountains, are blinded by daylight, return to their houses and cover their windows, spend the rest of their lives in half light. When sunset comes, those born at sunrise wail at the disappearance of birds in the sky, the layered shades of blue in the sea, the hypnotic movement of clouds.
In this world in which a human life spans but a single day, people heed time like cats straining to hear sounds in the attic. For there is no time to lose. Birth, schooling, love affairs, marriage, profession, old age must all be fit within one transit of the sun, one modulation of light. Time is too precious. A life is a moment in season. A life is one snowfall. A life is one autumn day. A life is the delicate, rapid edge of a closing door's shadow. A life is a brief movement of arms and of legs.
When old age comes, whether in light or in dark, a person discovers that he knows no one. There hasn't been time. Parents have passed away at midday or midnight. Brothers and sisters have moved to distant cities, to seize passing opportunities. Friends have changed with the changing angle of the sun. Houses, towns, jobs, lovers have all been planned to accommodate a life framed in one day. A person in old age knows no one. He talks to people, but he does not know them. His life is scattered in fragments of conversation, forgotten by fragments of people. His life is divided into hasty episodes, witnessed by few. He sits at his bedside table, listens to the sounds of his running bath, and wonders whether anything exists outside of his mind. Did that embrace from his mother really exist? Did that laughing rivalry with his school friend really exist? Did that first tingle of lovemaking really exist? Did his lover exist? Where are they now? Where are they now ..... vaguely perceiving the change in the light. "
Einstein's Dreams by Alan Lightman
I have been wanting to make a post like this for some time now. This book became one of my favorites once I started it. Each chapter gives many diverse scenarios of time in one's life. Everything from time reversal, standstill, blending of past and futures, to capturing time in the form of a bird. Funny part is this book was in my possession for ten years before I finally got into it. So glad I did.
I hope you enjoyed the read and if you are interested in the thoughts that Einstein might have had, this is what it would sound like. It's a great read with some chapters coming across poetic.
Looking forward!
