Contrary to what the Rolling Stones think, time is not on your side. It’s not on your side, or my side, or anyone’s side. Time is just time. It’s not anything else. It can neither be created nor destroyed. It just marches forward, unrelenting. The problem with time is that it runs out. With just about everything else in life, by hook or by crook, you can always get more. Not time though. That’s why 2015 is special.
Why is 2015 special you ask? We get more time. Not a lot, but we get more. One second more in fact. Due to the imperceptible slowing of the Earth’s rotation, which may be caused by things like earthquakes, tidal drag, and other weather events, the science guys figured out that the atomic clock is out of sync with the solar day by a second. To correct that, this year on June 30th at 11:59:59 an extra second will be added. The atomic clock will change from 11:59:59 to the time of 11:59:60 before then going to 12:00:00.
This year is a second longer than most. We get more time. A gift. So what will you do with your extra time? Some of you may be saying, “But Phil,” (I love when you say my name),”what can I possibly do in an extra second? That’s not enough time for anything!” Well, for starters you can probably say Phil in one second. If you all did it at once, at that extra second before midnight on June 30th, that would totally make my day. If however you want to spend that extra second on yourself or someone else here are some things you can do:
– Maintain eye contact with someone you love just a little bit longer
– Smile at someone who needs it
– Take a deep breath and remind yourself how lucky you are to still be doing that
– Laugh a little longer at a joke that lifts your spirits
– Touch someone. Just one finger laid lightly on another. Make that magical connection for a second or a second longer.
– Floss another tooth. People who floss their teeth regularly live three to five years longer than those who don’t. That’s a whole lot of extra seconds.
– Jump. Just one jump. Throw your body briefly into the air. For a second feel the joy you did as a kid when you jumped for no reason at all. If you’re lucky there will come a day when you haven’t run out of seconds but your legs will have run out of jumps. Make sure you take that extra one when you can.
One second doesn’t seem like much, but it is truly infinite. Over the course of your lifetime there have been a million thoughts, decisions or actions that have occurred in the blink of an eye, in the span of a second that have changed your life for better or for worse. This year you get one extra second, one extra thought, one extra decision, one extra move you make. What’s it going to be?
As always, if you have one extra second right now and you enjoyed #ThePhilFactor please share it by hitting the Facebook, Twitter, or re-blog button below. Have a great Saturday. See you June 30th at 11:59:60! ~Phil
Good thought! Much can happen in one second!!
That it can and thank you for using a few of your seconds to read and comment
Love this post! Very philosophical for this time in a morning – I find that the start of a new year often leaves us with a huge focus on time of past, present and future, and how best to spend it. I might just get up and jump just the once now!
You should post a picture of that jump on your blog!
Haha! I’m in my jammies, wearing a Christmas jumper and I haven’t washed my hair. Not likely!
All the better! You’re still in your jammies? Isn’t it almost lunchtime?
It’s Saturday! I don’t get out of my jammies unless I have to on a weekend!
I’m in my jammies, but I just got up a little while ago. I’ve already jumped today.
Haha! Did you take a pic of yourself?
Not yet. How do you take a jumping selfie?
Haha! I’m going to try later and find out!
I will remember to jump…when it is time to jump into bed.
As long as it’s a good one!
-smiles- It will be!
You didn’t make me burst out into a mad cackle with this post, Phil, but you did make me tear up. OK, I admit to smiling at “But, Phil…” Wonderful post.
Thanks Barbara. I’m glad you liked it. I’ll try to get some laughs in for my Tuesday post.
I didn’t imagine there were so many possibilities for things to do in a second 🙂
… and I love that clock face!!
Yes, but what will you do with your extra second?
😉
This extra second thing
Really is a perk
I just hope that I don’t have to
Spend my second at work.
Like I said, if you’ve got the time
Take a jump
Just make sure
You don’t fall on your rump.
Love this post and want to share it with everyone. Thank you, Phil, for your”second” thoughts.
Thanks Patricia! Getting reblogged by you is the ultimate compliment!
Reblogged this on The English Professor at Large and commented:
Love these “second” thoughts on The Phil Factor that I want to share with everyone.
I’ll think I’ll fart with my extra second. Okay that was immature, but it’s the first thought that came into my head. Happy New Year, Phil!
Hey, you can do whatever makes you happy for that extra second!
Phil, thanks for the positive vibes about kid ’15. We tend to dwell on the usual negatives. Bills, health, bad weather, etc ad nauseum. Thank you!
You’re welcome Garry. Thanks for stopping by!
When this extra second occurs, what time zone will it be in? Should I be preparing for my extra second at 14:59:59?
I would bet it will occur at/in Greenwich mean time. I’m not sure what that means, but what I didn’t mention is that it’s going to screw up all our computers. The internet might short circuit.
I heard that rumor, too. Apparently, Y2K has nothing on the Leap Second.
What does the passage of time actually measure? Suppose that I’m transiting Orion’s Belt and you’re sipping a pina colada in Cabo San Luis, can we synchronize our watches?
BTW, love the Indian you’re leaning against in the photo. My last one was a ’54.
Funny, as to what does time measure. I pondered that a bit as well. I mean really, the extra second isn’t really give us more time. It’s the same amount of time we’re just counting it slightly differently for a moment. As for the car, I wish it was mine.
Time is such a paradox, both limiting and eternal – precious whichever way you (I) ponder. Lovely post Phil, thank you!
Thank you Susan. Yes I definitely did more pondering than what ended up on the page.
Great ways to use the extra time 🙂
I should have added clicking Like on your blog as one of the ways to spend that extra second.
Ah, Phil … I love a blog that makes me smile! As for the extra second that I get this year I’m hoping that I’ll be laughing rather than flossing my teeth! Anita
Don’t sell the flossing short!
I had no idea. That’s interesting.