Front of Postcard from June, 1916
Family Heirlooms rec:
A family matriarch and newsletter enthusiast recently shared some family history with me. She sent postcards that my great-grandfather received between 1916 and 1918. The cursive was hard to decode, but ChatGPT helped me piece together the messages.
One line stopped me. In the winter of 1916, someone wrote to my great-grandfather about how “time has been flying lately.” I’m still stunned that I’m holding a note written in the middle of World War I, and even more stunned that the writer sounded so familiar.
I’ve often blamed time’s speed on modern life. Believing that screens and constant distraction are stealing our most valuable asset, time. Maybe I’ve been underestimating something older than technology. The way perception shifts with aging. The way people eventually say the same thing when they look back: “It goes so fast.”
Do you ever find yourself midweek thinking, “I can’t wait to get through this week so I can enjoy my weekend”? Then Sunday night hits and you’re thinking, “That went fast. Time to get through another week.” When I fall into that loop, I can feel time slipping away.
Enter, time dilation.
Time dilation is the idea that we can lengthen our perception of time by mixing in moments of awe throughout our days, weeks, and years. Awe can be as simple as finding a song that moves you, or noticing the vastness of the sky on an afternoon walk. It can also be bigger, like a no-phone safari or a meditation retreat to reintroduce yourself to… yourself.
So I’m taking the hint. This year, I’m booking a few time dilation trips. Trips built around awe, presence, and fully living in the moment.
Some trips I’m considering (that you can too):
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A solo hike in the mountains (or wooded area) with my phone turned off bringing only the essentials.
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A trip to a new city with one key place (i.e. Philadelphia, the Rocky statue) I’d like to explore, and an otherwise empty itinerary. Instead, following my interest, and hopefully some local advice.
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An adventure outside of a visit to family or a wedding. Instead, spending at least one week exploring a new country and culture outside of the US (i.e. Costa Rica). Caveat - no all-inclusives allowed.
Podcast rec:
From Sports Fan to Intramural GM w/ Josiah McFadden - Word on the pavement is The Good Looks Podcast is back.
The podcast launched in 2018 as a weekly hang with friends, featuring sports breakdowns, analysis, and the occasional scorching hot take.
Now it’s back with a renewed focus on conversations about what we’re building, what we’re learning, and the passions that shape our lives.
Show rec:
Pluribus - A show unlike any I’ve seen before. A virus is the triggering event for the plot, and can be seen as a hyperbolized (or not?) portrayal of how people may interact with AI in years to come. Check out the trailer.
Song rec:
Esperanza - Hermanos Gutiérrez. A vibey track for 2026. It’s worth your time to experiment with the full Hermanos Gutiérrez portfolio.
Quote to consider:
“Perhaps awe, while an ordinary response to the extraordinary, is also an extraordinary response to the ordinary.” - Ashley Stimpson, Johns Hopkins Magazine, “AWESTRUCK”
The Good Looks Podcast returns!