There is plenty of time.

I’ve noticed that when I’m scrolling online, there seems to be a sense of immediacy that evaporates once I step outside and look around. Maybe because the news and social updates are tuned for engagement and captivation. And urgency sits at the bedrock of attention: if there’s no immediate consequence, it isn’t as important.

The urgency isn’t even conveyed in the messaging specifically, but in how the messaging is presented. I’m not sure how to describe it at the moment. But the vibe is there. Something funny is going on when I look at my phone, but I can’t put my finger on it.

Why am I thinking about this and why does it matter? Because this sense of time and urgency is at the root of brain rot. You and I must actively fight against brain rot continuously. There’s a quadrillion dollars and a battalion of workers (both human and robot) continuously marshaling and deploying resources to capture your attention, evermore. Because incrementally the scattered moments you toss their way funds a multitude of industries and defines an era. (But is it your era or theirs?)

Am I talking about brain rot now or the dark side of collective effort? Maybe those themes pop up when I consider the preciousness of my time. (And for you, your time.) And how it’s frittered away when you aren’t paying attention.

Oddly, my sense of time seems to generate and multiply when I feel like there is plenty of it. It’s like gratitude. Or forgiveness. The more grateful or forgiving I am, the more I recognize how it surrounds me. It’s like love.