Time

Today it struck me how much the world has changed. These days no one really knows how to live at a slower pace. We all think we have to do do do and go go go, but that isn't really the case.

I'm amazed at how time flies or drags. If I'm doing something I want to be doing, like reading a good book, an hour can go so fast. If I'm doing something I don't want to be doing, like grading papers, the hour might still go fast, but I am amazed the task took an entire hour.

But then, when I am waiting, hours are an eternity.

I'm doing all of my research on media and its influence on literature. I think it has influenced much more than that. I think it has altered our expectations of time.

When I was a kid, instant gratification meant being told right away I could have what I wanted even if I knew it would take some time to get it. Now, email isn't even fast enough for us-- no, we have to text message a person, and if s/he doesn't get back to us-- oh no--

Don't get me wrong-- I think media is useful and fun, but I wonder what our lives would be like if we had to read a few more books, play a few more games, and write a few more letters.