When I was a kid, it seemed like summer vacation would last forever. Back then, a week was a long period of time and any thoughts about becoming an adult was just a dream, far into the future. Looking back on that now makes it feel like I'm looking back into the olden days. 
As I got older, it seems like time kept getting faster and faster. A few years back, I was talking to a couple that were in their eighties about it. They said, if you think time goes fast for you, wait till you're our age. I decided to do a little research on the subject and found there is a scientific reason behind it. 
Your brain measures time by recording new experiences. When you are a kid, just about everything is a new experience, so your brain was recording all those things making time feel slower. When we get older and have a regular job with a regular routine, our brain skips recording the same old thing, making time seem to go faster. I can remember some of my childhood experiences better than what I did two weeks ago. 
Not that having a job with a regular routine is a bad thing. Doing anything repetitiously can be comforting as you keep getting better at what you do. One of the most rewarding things in life is going to work every day doing something you love. Attitude is one of the most important factors in how much you enjoy your work. You could be a highly skilled worker with a bad attitude and dread going to work, or your great attitude can turn a mundane job into an enjoyable, satisfying experience. 
I have enjoyed most of my work life which consisted mostly of my military career, logging and working as a rural mail carrier. Logging and serving in the National Guard kept me in pretty good physical condition and all of them were mentally challenging. My last two years delivering mail during the COVID-19 scare turned into a grind, trying to get to a adequate time to retire. 
Now that my third year of retirement is approaching, I have determined to make the most of the rest of my life. While most people plan on a life of comfort and ease in their twilight years, I have been doing my best to get out of my comfort zone. Personal growth comes in times of intensive discomfort. Some of my most memorable experiences of physical distress were in the Army or backcountry camping with friends. 
I am always changing and looking for better ways to improve my mental and physical health. As for now, I usually wake up between five and six a.m. After feeding my cat, I take two tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil followed by a glass of water with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, a teaspoon of pure organic lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Then I go for a brisk one to two mile walk getting as much sunlight into my eyes as I can. Getting sunlight into your eyes within the first hour of the day can make you more alert, put you in a better mood, lower your stress levels and help you sleep better at night. Just don't stare directly at the sun so that it hurts your eyes. 
I always wait for an hour to ninety minutes before having my first cup of coffee and some days I wait until afternoon for my first meal if I'm intermittent fasting. I occasionally go on a 36 hour fast and last week I fasted for three full days, only drinking water and black coffee in the morning. I try to spend fifteen minutes or more doing different weight lifting sets with ten pound dumbbells, some push-ups and other exercises. 
One of the best, or worst, ways that I get out of my comfort zone, is to take a cold shower after exercising. I try my best to stay in the ice cold spray for five minutes or more. It's a great way to slow down time. Five minutes feels like forever. Cold showers have been shown to boost your immune system, improve circulation, reduce inflammation, increase your focus and improve your mental health. No pain, no gain. Don't take a cold shower if you have any heart problems without checking with your health care provider first. 
Last week's story shows a picture of a Model T on a muddy road. The caption says that it's from a mud season video that I made. I sent in a screenshot from my video of Wallace Hill Rd. and then the caption. I decided that I didn't like the screenshot, so I sent the photo of the old car. The picture of the car fits the story of being stuck in a rut, it's just the wrong caption. It's entirely my fault. 

Ken Batten grew up on a small sheep farm in West Topsham VT. He was a logging contractor, soldier and rural mail carrier. He now lives in North Hyde Park VT with his wife Tina-Marie. You can contact Ken at kenbatvt@gmail.com or PO Box 5 N Hyde Park VT 05665

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