8
kilkennyobserver.ie
The Kilkenny Observer Friday 24 December 2021
NewsOpinion
The Fact Of The Matter PAUL HOPKINS
We are hurtling towards, yet, another year It seems like it was only yesterday that I wrote elsewhere, Where did that year go, what with 2021 just upon us? Now, here I am again, wondering where the last 12 months went? I may not be any the wiser but I am, unfortunately, another year older and it seems, with each passing year, time flies at an alarming pace. My wonderful daughter said to me recently regarding some topic or other, You know dad, in a years time I will be 40! And I said, You know Niamh, I was 40 only yesterday... Of course I was 40 a score and more years ago: it just seems like yesterday. And if you, dear reader, are of similar vintage you will know exactly what I mean. When you are young, time passes quite slowly. Each birthday is a monumental occasion. Those long lazy summers of childhood seem
to never end. We, perhaps, remember trying to make the clock hands move faster with our minds as we sat bored in class. But as we grow older, life seems to speed up. Birthdays we’d sooner forget about, rather not notice them, as we feel like we’re hurtling towards old age. Why does it feel like this? Is time really moving faster somehow? Research from the University of Kansas suggests a thorough study to understand this phenomenon, of time going faster as we get older. Scientists tested the theory, first proposed by the contemporary physicist and philosopher Douglas Hofstadter, that time appears to speed up because we start grouping distinct individual experiences into larger ‘chunks’, like all our Christmases into one. When we are young we have many big moments, experienced for the first time. So going to
a park can be quite a big deal, with many memorable sensations experienced. But, as you grow older, going to that park offers fewer and fewer new experiences. So, we start collapsing them into memory ‘chunks’, putting everything that happened simply under ‘a walk in the park’ — making that particular span of time feel brief. At least that’s Hofstadter’s contention. The Kansas study involved 107 volunteers who were asked to compare how events of the past year measured up to events of other years. Some of them were encouraged to group together, or ‘chunk’, their experiences, others to write down how events could have turned out differently — going against the ‘chunking’ impulse. The chunking group found their previous year passed quicker than the other group did. The researchers also asked
115 undergraduates to reflect on different daily activities either over the past day or the past year. Those who chose to ‘chunk’ the past year felt it had passed faster than those who ‘chunked’ the previous day. Although I do my very best not to dwell on this inevitable aspect of life, I can imagine that, for many people of my vintage, perceiving life as rapidly slipping away can prove unpleasant and somewhat demotivating, psychologically harmful even which may in part explain mid-life depression for many people. Or, at the very least, a sense of nostalgia for things gone by, to which I put my hands up. If guilty on that front, I nonetheless endeavour to live life, each day, in the ‘moment’. A kind of mindfulness, if you like, which seems to be all the buzz at the moment. Living ‘in the moment’
seems to allow me to appreciate such moments more fully, creating meaningful memories. At the end of the day, these days, and particularly with the pandemic, I find myself more often resensitised to the satisfaction
‘When you are young, time passes quite slowly..
”
of the simple things life offers. Spring was never so vibrant but autumn does, most days, seem richly gold. Increasingly, I find people are of abiding interest — observed on the street, overheard on the bus, down the pub of an evening. Small pleasures have greater meaning now; that pint, the walk by the mill, my friend’s just published book of essays, my daughter’s phone call... In their own way, such simple things counteract life’s quickening pace. At the end of the day, middle and old age, and the attainment of such, should be laudably embraced, for it is that time of life denied so many throughout the world for whom death comes calling early. That I have lived another year is a miracle in itself. May your New Year bring you all the good life has to offer. Miracles even...
Survival tips for Christmas CLAIR WHITTY
Christmas is not for everyone and as such, some of you might feel a bit of pressure with all the build-up to it. All the talk, all the ads, and all the music. It can get to you. And those of you that love Christmas can feel stress and anxiety too because you have so much to do to be prepared. Some of you will overindulge on food, sweets, or alcohol, your digestive system could end up needing support. Here are some survival tips to try. Stressed: My favourite supplements for stress and anxiety are Bach Flower Rescue
Remedy and Stressveda. Rescue Remedy is easy to use. You simply add a few drops to water and sip throughout the day. This is also brilliant to relax over excited-children and adults too! Stressveda is a one-a-day supplement that includes Ashwagandha and B vitamins, ideal for stress and anxiety. It can help with energy too. Lacking motivation and Drive: Higher Nature Alert (Drive) is a supplement I have tried when my mood was low with a lack of energy and drive. I was dragging myself around with no real motivation. Higher Nature Alert” gave me a lift, improved my lack of drive, and helped with energy too. Worth a try if you feel like I did. Energy Boost: When I need
an energy boost, I think of iron, Floradix Liquid Iron is what I would choose. It tastes great and one bottle can do the trick and get me going again. Overindulgence: A.Vogel Milk Thistle Complex - This is an ideal herbal remedy to have in your cupboard as it aids digestion, and helps to support the liver helping it to deal with the effects of alcohol. It helps break down fats so you don’t feel so sluggish after the main meal. Bloating: Try Salus Peppermint tea. It’s ideal to help with bloating, wind (comma) and flatulence. It helps to digest food more efficiently and is pleasant tasting too. Heartburn: Try a spoonful of bread soda in a glass of water. Or eat an apple to ease discomfort. Hubner liquid Silica is a great supplement to try. It helps relieve nausea, bloating, and heartburn. I hope these tips help and that you have a happy Christmas and a happy New Year. If you have any questions about anything at all we would love to have a chat with you. Natural Health Store Market Cross Shopping Centre Kilkenny Phone: 056 7764538 Email: info@ naturalhealthstore. ie Shop online: www. naturalhealthstore.ie
