Why Life Feels Faster Than Ever in West Texas

How often are you realizing just how fast life is going?

Numerous residents of the West Texas region express how the passage of time appears to accelerate compared to their youth.

This sensation, like witnessing birthdays rush by and holidays arrive seemingly instantaneously, transcends mere nostalgia.

It is fundamentally linked to how our brains interpret experience and the perception of time as we mature.

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Perception of Time: Children Versus Adults

Research into time perception explains that when we were children, every moment felt expansive: the first day of school, learning to ride a bike, discovering someplace new.

Our minds absorbed a flood of fresh experiences and memories, and each day felt long.

But as adults, the novelty dries up. Fewer things surprise us, fewer firsts occur, and the brain registers less new information. In turn, the days shrink.

Whoever came up with the phrase "Life is short" wasn't kidding.

Yes, Time Really Does Fly as We Get Older

So maybe it’s not that time is racing by, but that we’ve simply stopped noticing its rhythm.

In Midland-Odessa, where the sun sets slow and orange over pump jacks and pecan trees, there’s still space to breathe and make new memories.

Whether it’s taking the long way home past the fields, trying a new restaurant downtown, or spending an unhurried evening with family, those moments stretch the clock a little.

Read More: Pecan Versus Pumpkin Pie: Texans Sound Off

The reality is that time may never really slow down; that is just how we perceive it.

Unfortunately, it is a part of life.  Perhaps this is why so many adults would tell us as children not to be in a hurry to grow up.