As I enter my final year of university, I find myself in a never-asleep-but-always-tired world, where we have the power to summon the world's knowledge anytime at the tap of a finger. Instantly satiating our curious mind with an answer without letting it wander and dwell on the problem has its own pitfalls.
As young students drawn towards our initial curiosity, it may make us feel like we are losing the thrill that comes with fervently chasing answers and finding a deeper purpose. While the internet provides us with a vast reservoir of facts, it doesn’t encourage us to delve deeper into the finer details. This can only be achieved with thoughtful reflection — something our generation has lost with the passage of time.
In ancient times amidst the tranquil farmlands of the golden ages, time and society both danced to the leisurely rhythm of nature as our ancestors cherished the virtue of patience. They worked diligently all year and waited for the harvest — understanding that life's sweetest fruits and greatest joys often ripen slowly. As human society progressed, our generation emerged with its need for speed and a craving for instant gratification. Today, it seems as if every aspect of our lives has been accelerated, and much is lost in this relentless pursuit of speed. This rapid pace leaves me yearning for a slower, more deliberate exchange of thoughts and knowledge.
Our food, a reflection of our values and beliefs, also highlights this shift. Most students around me survive on their block meal swipes and dining-dollar-funded cup noodles (ready within minutes) sacrificing the joy of slow-cooked dishes that require time and effort but make you feel at home. I’ve certainly found that there's a certain magic in the act of patiently preparing a meal over a slow-cooking pot, allowing flavors to meld and evolve like a harmonious symphony. In the fast-paced lives we all lead, it has become impossible to stop and prepare or even eat anything but grab-and-go food. Talk about stopping to smell the flowers!
Even our emotional lives are marked by impatience. As is evident from every other post on Hopkins Sidechat about dating, we expect instant connection and discard potential at even the slightest inconvenience. I often find myself reminiscing about the joy of receiving a handwritten letter, a striking contrast to the fleeting instant message. The effort someone puts into writing a heartfelt letter makes the wait worthwhile as it gives us something to cherish forever in this transient human life. We get to reflect on the profound beauty of human bonds, excitedly anticipate hearing back from a dear one and thoughtfully exchange words and ideas. The instant replies we now receive are surely efficient but lack the meaning and contemplative beauty of earlier days.
In the grand tapestry of life, it's the yarn of patience that weaves the most intricate patterns. My journey through the fast-paced routine of college has shown me the value of waiting, savoring life’s moments and taking the scenic route instead of the highway. And, our generation, especially, would really benefit from thinking about this as we traverse these very eventful years of college.
As I navigate my last year of college, I have learned to pause to appreciate what surrounds me, as at the end of the day, it's not the speed at which we live our lives that matters most, but the depth of our experiences and the connections we forge along the way. Balancing the instant with the everlasting has become a guiding principle in my life, helping me find the truest, most meaningful blessings life has to offer.
Resham Talwar is a senior from New Delhi, India studying Biomedical Engineering.
