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Thomas L. Petty, M.D. Professor of Medicine, Chairman, National Lung Health Education Program (NLHEP) |
December 2001 Dear Friends: The passage of time is constant. It is determined by the physical characteristics of our universe. Everything we do has a time limit. Time is also expressed as speed. Thus, we talk about the speed of sound and breaking the sound barrier by aircraft that travel faster than the speed of sound. Seated in the Concord over the Atlantic, you notice that the cabin is silent because of traveling faster than the speed of sound. You get to New York at an earlier hour than when you left London, yet three hours of time have passed. Thus, the trip did not gain time, even though the clock suggested otherwise. When you cross the International Dateline by traveling east, you don’t really gain a day. Time has passed, but was it fun? Time can seem to slow So time is constant. Time flies whether you are having fun or not. Time doesn’t care. You should cherish the time you have and plan to have fun for as much time as you have left. Your friend, |
Published: Feb 22 2002