It’s About Time
Take a moment. I’ll be there in five. Plan for tomorrow, don’t forget the past, and make sure you live in the moment. The time is now.
But what does it mean to live in the now? Our lives are constant revolving doors of now, so what exactly is the importance of living in the now, in a moment that is so fleeting? Is the idea to acknowledge in an instant what we have and then immediately release any attachment to fully be able to experience whatever is next, in a constant lesson of impermanence and appreciation?
But what of appreciation for past and future moments? Does the present have some inherent value over other moments? Perhaps it is because the present is around for such a minuscule, transient segment of time that the present is almost beyond our comprehension, where as the past and future are ours to contemplate for as long as we like—but at the very cost of the ephemeral present.
A minute too late, a second too soon, right on time.
Should we embrace the life of ticks, blinking digits, and sweeping second hands? It could definitely be argued that they help us better use the limited time we have. Or should we forget the constant tally that, as much as we try to convince ourselves, cannot seem to truly keep up with the ever-changing moments of our lives. Is the clock a beautiful scale that simply measures moments in a way that is fundamentally different than how we as human beings experience them?
Give me a second. You’ve been at it for hours. I’m three minutes out.
There may not be a right or wrong. But if you need to know the time, consider what that means. The watch pictured above was designed to force me to do that. It removes the automatic, subconscious action of looking at the clock that is so easy to succumb to. With this watch, I cannot quickly glance at the clock and know the time because it reminds me that time is much more than that. It makes me consider exactly what I am doing and why I am doing it.
It’s about time.
For those interested about the technical aspects of this watch:
This is a Moto 360. It is an Android self-proclaimed Smartwatch with customizable faces. You can download new faces or make them yourself. I made this face using an app called WatchMaker available at the Google Play store. If you’re into this sort of thing, you can find a great Android watch making community at Google Plus here.
This particular watch face was based off of an image I came across awhile ago on the Internet. I had no idea what the original image was when I adapted it for a watch, I simply liked the design (it turns out it’s a multitouch modular controller for audio production, called the Lemur by JazzMutant).
For those privy to the Smartwatch world, I haven’t added too many options as it was designed for personal use. It was designed specifically with the Moto 360 in mind, using imperial measurements, and there is no ambient mode. But it is extremely easy on the battery, and you can always tailor it to your specific needs. Contact me if you would like the files for the Mark II and I’ll send a download link!
Time’s up.
