There’s a saying: “Father Time is undefeated.” There is no escaping getting older. You may feel 28 mentally, but the sounds you make just by getting up from a chair can be a sobering reminder of how advanced you are in age.
Photos of mementos and references from your youth can also reinforce that feeling you’ve gotten old, and pretty quickly. This subreddit is filled with these posts, making many people who see them curse under their breath after realizing how quickly all those years flew by.
We collected some of those posts for your reading pleasure today. While they may bring in some nostalgia, don’t be surprised if you also feel a palpable sense of wistfulness.
#1 These Were The Rewards When Doing Kitchen Duty During My Elementary School Years
Image source: Altruistic-Cut9795
#2 Who Grabbed A Drink Out Of One Of These
Image source: MichaelFusion44
#3 If You Saw A Mcdonalds In Person That Listed The Number Of Burgers Sold Under Its’ Golden Arches You’re Really Old
Image source: Devi8tor
As young kids, most of us were in a hurry to grow up. Many were antsy to grow up and enjoy the freedoms adults had, and it felt like time moved at a snail’s pace.
But as we grew older, it suddenly felt like years zoomed by in ways we could no longer keep up with. Human development researcher Jamie Jirout has an explanation.
#4 Who Recalls These Shin Shredders?
Image source: Grizz1ybear
#5 I Miss Unloading My Groceries On To One Of These
Image source: marceline407
#6 If You Say You Don’t Miss The Old Pizza Hut You Are Lying
Image source: lamprey187
“When we are young, there is so much changing in what we know about the world, and the experiences we are having are so new, we don’t know what to expect,” Jirout said. “The experiences when you are 5 are much more likely to be new and require a lot more cognitive effort to process.”
Jirout adds that being young means you’re not good at controlling attention or knowing what to focus on. As a result, you encode more details from your experiences than adults do.
#7 Before Email …
Image source: mikeonmaui
#8 Anyone Else Make The Trip To The Day Old Bread Store ?
Image source: Altruistic-Cut9795
#9 Ah The Drive In Movie Played This One!
Image source: Prestigious-Copy-494
We all accumulate experiences as we grow old, which means we develop a better understanding of life and the world around us. According to Jirout, this leads to less novelty in our experiences, so we pay less attention to what is happening.
This is why, she says, time can feel like it passes much faster when we reach adulthood.
#10 Who Did This For Money?
Image source: klystron88
#11 When You Wanted That California Blonde Hair Back In The Day
Image source: Martynypm
#12 Are You Old Enough To Know Why We Had Two Car Keys In The Old Days?
Image source: WarnerToddHuston
That feeling of the years going by so quickly also has to do with how our brains interpret time. According to Queensland University of Technology psychology and counseling professor Hinze Hogendoorn, it’s because our brain estimates the passage of time through changes.
“Unlike a clock, the brain does not have regular ticks to count,” Hogendoorn wrote. “To infer how much time has passed, the brain simply adds up how much happened. If you fill a time interval with exciting stuff, it seems to last longer.”
#13 Have You Ever Driven A Car Or Truck With 3 On The Tree?
Image source: Libra79
#14 Yep
Image source: PdoffAmericanPatriot
#15 If This Was Your James Bond, You Belong Here
Image source: OSJezza
A routine can also make time pass more quickly, Hogendoorn says. Again, a lack of novel experiences comes into play, leaving less vivid memories.
“When our older brain therefore looks back to infer how much time has passed since the start of the year, it concludes that not much has happened, so it doesn’t feel very long ago,” he explained.
#16 David Letterman Was Our Local Weatherman While I Was Growing Up In Indianapolis In The 1970’s
Image source: Firephox
#17 Who Drank This In The Early 80s?
Image source: TannerDonovan
#18 If You Know Who These Dudes Are, You Get Aarp Membership Applications In The Mail, Eh?
Image source: SugarFront8206
It’s likely safe to assume that everyone will jump at the chance to turn back the clock. But since time travel isn’t possible (yet), we can slow down time. Hogendoorn’s advice: just get bored.
To keep memories fresh, he says it’s all about rehashing every one through journaling or simply reminiscing. As he notes, “Keep your memories alive, and you’ll keep your past alive.”
#19 Larry, Darryl, And Darryl
Image source: Existing-Face-6322
#20 I Miss Having My Ding Dong Foil Wrapped
Image source: pmljb
#21 Who Had One Of These??
Image source: No_Tension420
#22 If You Watched This Guy Fix Up Houses, You Belong Here
Image source: pmljb
#23 If You Recognize This Woman…
Image source: Plus-King5266
#24 The Big Box With The Sharpener Was The Cadillac Of Crayons. With This Beast You Were Instantly Cool
Image source: cherrydiamond
#25 Coin Holder!
Image source: Existing-Face-6322
#26 Did You Eat From An Early Food Truck?
Image source: pmljb
#27 Nobody Knew Who We Were
Image source: IsThataButtPlug
#28 No One Knew What My Costume Was
Image source: liamemsa
#29 If You Met This Guy Through His Faster Cousin, I Know Where You Were On Saturday Morning
Image source: False_Ad_555
#30 No, I Don’t Think We Were Even Allowed To Touch That Thing. At Least Not In My School
Image source: cherrydiamond
#31 If You’re A Old As I Am
Image source: JET304
#32 If You Don’t Get 67 But Get This, Then You’re Old
Image source: VoteForGiantMeteor
#33 56 Years Ago Today
Image source: Teddycat99
#34 What Do You Expect? Tapes Were Expensive
Image source: nthensome
#35 These God Awful Things
Image source: uninspired_oblivion
#36 Yes We Should Get Compensation!!
Image source: Prestigious-Copy-494
#37 None Of Them Will Ever See This So It’s Safe To Post It Now LOL
Image source: Grahamthicke
#38 Who Had A Vertibird?
Image source: pmljb
#39 No Holidays
Image source: Handicapped-007
#40 Did You Ever Get Your Kicks At Kinney Shoes??
Image source: WarnerToddHuston
#41 Did You Have A Rotary Dial Wall Phone That Was Rented From The Phone Company? The Rental Price Was Part Of Your Monthly Bill
Image source: GatorStealth
#42 If You Recall Why You Shouldn’t Take This Little Idol Home, You Are Old
Image source: WarnerToddHuston
#43 Scary
Image source: StenoDawg
#44 Do You Recall As A Kid When A Root Beer Barrel Was A Treasure Unto Itself?
Image source: Canna-Cat
#45 If This Was The Air Conditioning For You Car… You Know What I’m Going To Say
Image source: WarnerToddHuston
#46 Can Anyone Else Relate?
Image source: Samwhys_gamgee
#47 Whose Thanksgiving Dinner Included This?
Image source: FrankieHun17
#48 If You Ever Did This…..you Are Old
Image source: Long_live_styrofoam
#49 Any Excuse To Get Out Of The Seat
Image source: [deleted]
#50 Cheeburger, Cheeburger, Cheeburger. No Fries, Cheep
Image source: Serling45
#51 You’re Old If This Family Was A Part Of Your Mornings Before School
Image source: Brave-Ad6627
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