Time: The Unit of Change and Memory

Written by: Khooshi Jajoo

Edited by: N. Roshini Reddy

Soren Kierkegaard once said: “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.” Time - the fundamental unit of measurement for all life on this planet and the entire universe - remains one of the most intriguing forces we encounter. It cannot be touched, seen, or held, yet it governs every aspect of existence with remarkable precision. Time is important not only because it dictates the rhythm of life, but because it gives meaning to every moment we experience. Without the movement of time, the significance of our actions, emotions, and memories would cease to exist. The famous saying, “time and tide wait for no one,” encapsulates its relentless and impartial nature.

Connected to this central idea of time are two equally profound concepts: change and memory. Though they are deeply intertwined, each holds its own unique purpose. Time ushers in change, nudging us from one stage of life to another, and time allows our experiences to crystallise into memories that shape who we are.

Change is one of the few constants in life. It is inevitable, powerful, and transformative. Throughout history, nothing has managed to escape change - people evolve, places transform, cultures shift, and the way we communicate continually adapts. While change often brings uncertainty and fear, it also brings growth. It pushes us beyond stagnation and prevents life from collapsing into monotony. Without change, every day would resemble the one before it. There would be no progress, no lessons learned, and no emotional depth. Change, despite its discomfort, is the very force that allows life to move forward.

Change is also how we perceive the passage of time. We understand morning turning into evening by the shifting position of the sun. We recognise the arrival of a new year through changes in weather, seasons, and surroundings. Even within ourselves, we measure time through personal milestones - who we used to be versus who we have become. And usually, we measure such changes in decennials - a decade passing by. It feels like a full stop to one era/arc of life and a start of another one. What we are at ten won’t probably be the same at twenty and so on. And while changes might not always be visible everyday, a large period of time - like a decade - is very helpful in discerning those changes. These transitions, small or significant, serve as markers that help us make sense of time’s movement.

From these changes emerge memories, the quiet architects of our inner world. Memories are what build us up, ground us, and help us navigate life. And what better measure than a decennial? The importance of the decennial lies in its ability to capture long-term change and memories. When we look back on a decade, we do not simply remember isolated moments - we see arcs, patterns, and the unfolding of personal and collective narratives. Memories are the stories we carry within ourselves - archives of joy, loss, laughter, mistakes, love, and resilience. They teach us lessons that strengthen our judgement. They offer hope in dark moments, reminding us of times we overcame challenges. They give us identity, acting as anchors to our past while shaping our future. Yet, memories can only exist because time moves forward, allowing moments to shift from present to past. 

What makes time, change, and memory so fascinating is their paradoxical nature. They are ordinary - experienced by all - yet infinitely complex, impossible to fully define. They exist in harmony, constantly influencing one another and colouring our lives with meaning. Together, they form the framework through which we understand ourselves and the world.

Ultimately, what is life if not a tapestry of changes and memories woven steadily across the passage of time? Every moment we live becomes a stitch in that tapestry, shaping the story we leave behind. As is said, ‘Every decade of your life is a chance to become someone new’. One day, decades later, we too will exist only in the memories of others - traces of who we were, carried forward in time. And because that is inevitable, there is no reason to fear change. Instead, we can welcome each decade as the force that deepens our experiences and adds texture to our journey. With time guiding our steps and memories walking beside us, we can move forward with curiosity and courage, continually discovering who we are and who we are becoming. Because as Abraham Lincoln rightly said: “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It's life in your years.”