North York Central Library Blog

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At 2 am on Sunday, March 13th, clocks inch ahead by one hour. Except for the province of Saskatchewan, many of us will experience a mild form of jetlag as we lose an hour of sleep to start our day. People living in Europe will not experience this time change until March 27th, a week after the first day of Spring. The clocks will return to Eastern Standard Time on November 6th at 2 am. 

This blog title was inspired by the song, Time by Hootie & the Blowfish from the 1995 album, Cracked Rear View. For many of us, myself included, the arrival of Daylight Saving Time (DST) evokes a sense of mental anguish similar to the hypnotic lyrics crooned by Darius Rucker.

For those who are already sleep deprived, losing an hour of sleep could lead to dangerous traffic accidents and other negative health effects. WebMD offers useful suggestions on Coping with the Effects of Daylight Saving Time. Also, have a look at two more blog posts on DST.

The good news is that the days will grow longer, the weather will improve, and the mornings will begin to fill with warmth and sunlight. The first day of Spring will arrive on March 20th. Getting up early will feel less harrowing as time goes by.

Listed below are various themes for contemplating this new time shift. In fact, looking at time from these perspectives may give weight to and develop an appreciation for different events winding through time.

Creative Times

Time can be wibbly-wobbly, distorted, fractured, paradoxical, pressing or mysterious.  These fascinating titles may hold you timebound.

Mad Times

Times can be difficult in today's fast-paced world with issues of violence, terrorism, bullying, and various forms of abuse. The end of the world may draw near through Mutual Assured Destruction (MAD). Any time is a good time to read up on these furious times.

Sad Times

Through history, madness may lead to sadness for victims experiencing abuse, neglect, torture, or annihilation. Learning from the mistakes made and working towards strategies for change are important in amending the actions of these times for a better future.

Glad Times

Finally, there are good times to be had. Welcoming a new year, dancing away your troubles, and celebrating every waking moment through fiestas and music are the best ways to enjoy the moments while we are alive.

Music Time

Nothing is better than to tune in and move with the music. Here are more contemporary songs (in no particular order) that come to mind:

• Time (clock of the heart) by The Culture Club
• Time to Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli
• Time in a Bottle by Jim Croce and a memorable excerpt from the (2014) movie, Xmen: Days Of Future Past
• Prime Time and Time by Alan Parsons Project
• Time is on my Side and Out of Time by The Rolling Stones
• And the classic, "Is it any wonder I've got Too Much Time on my Hands, it's ticking away with my sanity," by Styx.

If you are contemplating the limited preciousness of time, this video, You Are Here (Pale Blue Dot) which was inspired by the works of Carl Sagan will provide a global perspective on our time here.

Time need not be a punishing ordeal to endure if you can measure it accurately and see it for what it is–an opportunity to change, build, and develop in your own way.  Time stands still for no one so get ahead of it and do your best with what time you have left.