Childhood's Weight: How Time Perception Shapes Life

The concept of subjective time suggests that not all years are experienced equally. While a year is objectively always 365 days, the way the human brain processes and remembers that time varies significantly by age.

Research indicates that the first two decades of life feel disproportionately long compared to the subsequent decades. This phenomenon is attributed to the density of new experiences and the way the brain encodes memories. As we age, routine sets in, and the brain begins to filter out familiar stimuli, causing years to seemingly pass more quickly.

If we accept the premise that childhood constitutes half of our subjective life, it fundamentally changes how we should view our responsibilities. It implies that the care, education, and protection of the young are paramount, as their current experiences form the bulk of their perceived existence. Furthermore, it suggests that adults might benefit from seeking new experiences to counteract the acceleration of time.

The notion of helical time proposes that our experience of life is not a linear progression but a spiral. As we age, we revisit the same types of experiences—holidays, work cycles, seasons—but with increasing speed. The first time we experience an event, it is novel and occupies a large amount of mental space; the hundredth time is fleeting.

Childhood is defined by the firsts. The first time a child rides a bike, learns a word, or visits a new city, the brain creates a dense network of connections. This density makes the memory of that period feel expansive when looked back upon.

In contrast, adult years are often filled with repetition. The lack of novelty causes the brain to compress time. A year spent in a repetitive job at age 40 may be remembered as passing in the 'blink of an eye,' whereas a year in elementary school, filled with new lessons and social developments, feels like an eternity.

If we measure life by the number of distinct, memorable events rather than chronological ticks, the distribution shifts heavily toward the beginning. The author posits a mathematical reality where the first 20 years of life account for roughly 50% of the subjective life.

This calculation relies on the 'proportionality theory' of time perception. A single year at age 5 represents 20% of a child's entire existence, whereas a year at age 50 represents only 2% of their life. The psychological weight of that year mirrors these percentages.

Therefore, the argument follows that:

• The early years are the most resource-intensive in terms of memory formation.
• They lay the foundation for the personality and cognitive patterns used for the rest of life.
• They are, in a very real sense, the 'longest' part of being alive.

Accepting that childhood dominates our subjective timeline has profound implications for how society functions. It suggests that policies affecting the young are not just investments in the future, but investments in the majority of a human's actual lived experience.

For individuals, this perspective offers two distinct paths. The first is to ensure that children are given environments rich in positive stimulation and safety, maximizing the quality of their 'longest' years. The second is for adults to attempt to slow down their own perceived time.

To combat the acceleration of age, the article suggests injecting novelty into adult life. By learning new skills, traveling to unfamiliar places, or breaking routines, adults can mimic the neural density of youth. While we cannot extend our chronological lifespan, we may be able to expand our subjective lifespan, making the remaining years feel longer and more meaningful.