One of the fundamental reasons we travel is to experience new things. But what are these experiences if we have little or no memory of them at all?

The other day I was reflecting on how none of us should be surprised by how quickly time appears to pass in our human minds by now. 2018 has come and gone (“gee that was quick”). 2019 will as well (“I have all year for this”). And so on.

Everyone agrees that time flies, but we are still extremely surprised by this fact until the day we die.

In the original Cosmos, Carl Sagan shared a bit a wisdom that I would like to share with you. He said, referring to a lifetime, “We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever.”

We “flutter for a day and think it is forever.”

Brilliant, right?

When people talk about the passing of time in their own life, conceptually they know they won’t live forever (unless they believe in the hereafter). But day by day, year by year, they live as though their own fate is much further away than it really is.

And on the occasion that they’re faced with it – the end of another calendar year, the death of a loved one, another birthday, or even the close of a weekend – it is often filled with anxiety, fear and sadness.

Is it because we are too caught up, fluttering away in the warm sun, without the hurry to do the things we want to do or believe are important? We have the potential to enjoy life in as full and complete a way, precisely the way it is, each and every day. So why not do it already?

• Tell your friends and family you love them.

• Be present and give whoever you are with or whatever you are doing your full attention (break your addiction to your smartphone already).

• Cook fresh food. Exercise. And enjoy the outdoors!

Anyway, back to remembering. What does it all mean if when we reach old age we don’t remember 90% of the things we did in our life? All of the meaningful relationships and great experiences we spent a lifetime creating – all for nothing?

These are complicated questions and my opinions on them vary. Perhaps I’ll elaborate more on these topics in future blogs.

My initial intent for writing this post was to feature one of my favorite pictures from our NYE weekend of our friends’ dog, Duke. And how one of the best ways for remembering things and transmitting them to a wider audience and future generations, is to take pictures and write about ’em 🙂 thanks!