Stumbled Upon a Time Machine

Today I had downloaded an app onto my mobile. While entering initial details, I was to enter my date of birth. The developers and company who had produced that app seem to have been in a hurry. The date-picker took me from the current date to my date of birth, one-month-at-a-time. I tried if I was not using it right, but then found, it was the only way to navigate through the date-field. Thus, I stumbled upon a Time Machine. I am sure neither the app, nor my memories would be of any relevance to you. But, I’m sure, when you come across such a date-picker, you will remember my way of using the odds to your advantage.

Being Sunday, being the first person out of Bed, I had all the time. So, I went back one-month-at-a-time, recounting the incidents that happened during each such month. Honestly, not all months were eventful. I observed myself carrying stronger recall as they went backwards. Ironically, the later memories were not as strong or intense as my early age memories. I am still trying to understand if there is any reason or pattern to this.

On any other day, I too, like all others, would have cursed the app maker for this flaw. Today, I was enjoying moments from my past, month-by-month. The total experience was very relishing and rejuvenating, making the current moments happy and happening. Travelling back in time is not just for the nostalgia. Remind you, not all of past are nostalgic, some can be nauseating too. But visiting the past will help us in being grounded and pragmatic, especially with all the different kinds of relationships that we acquire every day. Nostalgic ones, remind us about the obligations that we may owe someone, which may or may not have been fulfilled yet. Nauseating ones tell us how to identify and keep ourselves away from such people or incidents – also, empathise with someone who is undergoing such an obstacle in the current scene. Some memories of blank spaces – made of nothing of significance but times spent with pleasant people for the sheer company that we have had. This exercise will help us in re-evaluation of relationships, taking steps to maintain the important ones and to detach the less important ones to a transactional mode. Time-travels like these, also brings back the focus on our primary responsibilities at work, families, friends and colleagues. Such exercises can bring our present day obsessions and idiosyncrasies to the fore and when we take cognisance of these, we can initiate course correction wilfully and with full awareness about oneself. Technically, we may not always need a flawed-app with such a date-picker for our Time-Travel. Just that we need to make some time for such travels.

Bon voyage.