The Holiday Paradox
July is not even over and we’re already seeing an onslaught of back-to-school ads here in Philadelphia. I know that many schools start in August but couldn’t we let kids hold on to the summer for just a little longer? I loved the lazy summers of my childhood. Those two months between the end of school and Labor Day seemed to stretch on like an endless string of adventures. This sense that time goes by more quickly as you age is part of what’s called, appropriately enough, the “holiday paradox.” As the saying goes, we feel time going by faster when we’re doing something fun like taking a holiday. But when we look back, we remember the fun parts lasting much longer than the boring bits. That’s the paradox and according to scientists, it’s related to the way the brain makes memories. Our brains add new experiences to our memories but ignore familiar ones. As we age our lives become more routine so the seasons seem to pass more quickly. The more new experiences the better as far as memory is concerned. Now, if that’s not an incentive to get out there and have some fun new experiences, I don’t know what is. Enjoy!
Warmest regards,
B. Zimmerman
