this post was submitted on 12 May 2024
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So I have a widget in my phone's home screen tracking the days I have lived so far, to remind me of the time I have, and not to waste it.
I was sitting in the school dining hall, glancing at my phone to check the time and my friend remarked how it is weird that I'm counting the days I'm living.
I didn't say anything but I'm confused about how is it weird. We are 15~16 y/o.

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[–] [email protected] 60 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Once you live a few decades, years rush by no matter what. Do what makes you happy.

(Ps i do think its weird but who gives a shit what random internet person thinks, you do you)

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

The only thing you can really do is have new experiences.

For too many people the decades look the same. No wonder time flies when you do the same thing day in day out because you don't remember anything about them.

Memories make time seem long.

[–] [email protected] 55 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

You're 15-16 years old.

At that age, it's normal for you and your peers to make dismissive judgements about each other's behavior as you sort out your own ways of existing in the world.

What "weird" means here is, "this makes me uncomfortable so I reject it." Similarly, if they'd said it was "cool" it would mean, "this intrigues me and I might like to try it in my life."

In both cases they project their personal reaction as if it's the universal judgement of society. And because at this age the opinion of one's peers is an important part of one's self-esteem, you've taken it as a social judgement rather than a personal one, and come to Lemmy to see if there's social support for your side.

Personally, I can only say, there's no harm in it. If it's weird at all, it's good weird, like most weird is.

I would look at that number differently on different days. Sometimes I might interpret it as a reminder to get shit done. Today I might think, "You have survived these many days, you can survive today." Although at my age, the number of days is gonna run out of room on the screen.... (Edit: it's only 23,449 days. Heck, I can do more than that!)

You do you, hon.

[–] [email protected] 38 points 5 months ago (1 children)

A little bit. Most people just count the years.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I've found the number of the days feels much more than the years, and has greater impact, even though it's all equivalent.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Whatever works for you man. Screw what anyone thinks about what you do. Do your thing. Nothing really matters all that much, except how you feel about yourself.

[–] [email protected] 36 points 5 months ago

Odd is fine, weird is fine, if you find it useful embrace it

[–] [email protected] 24 points 5 months ago

I do the same but I use years instead.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 5 months ago (1 children)

It's objectively weird in the sense that most people don't do that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (2 children)

What? Most people celebrate birthdays. How is that not essentially the same thing? lol

[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 months ago

Most people have hair on their heads. If someone had feathers on their head instead, that'd be weird, even if it were essentially the same thing in principle.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

It is essentially the same thing, but that is the cultural box that we've created where it's normal to keep track of your lifespan. A Death Note style reminder has not been deemed socially acceptable.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 5 months ago (1 children)

What would be weirder is an app counting down how much time you have left.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago

I actually have a death date. It helps a lot with being able to plan my life and live in a way where I'll be happy with my life if I were to die tommorow.

If I reach that date then great, anything after I just consider a bonus lol

[–] [email protected] 15 points 5 months ago

It's probably unusual. I hope that's what your friend meant. If something you do is unusual, it doesn't automatically mean you need to stop doing it.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I didn’t say anything but I’m confused about how is it weird. We are 15~16 y/o.

Your teens and 20s are years where you learning who you are. Use whatever safe means available to you to do this. Explore ideas, embrace the absurd until you find your personal limits for it. You knowing who you are is so powerful and incredibly important to your happiness and success later in life.

If this app and the information it gives you gives you a perspective of reflection (which it sounds like it is) that is helpful to you in any way in gaining understanding about who you are and where you are in the world, in time, I say use it.

However, commit this experience to your memory. In the days and years ahead you'll see others in life that are doing things that you may find weird or different. They too may be exploring for themselves who they are. Remember today when someone called something you're doing "weird" and try to be respectful to those others when you encounter them later in life (as long as their actions don't cross your boundaries of safety for yourself).

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[–] [email protected] 12 points 5 months ago

Meh. Doesn't hurt anyone so no one should give a shit.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 5 months ago

Everyone is weird and crazy at that age. Try not to overthink things and just try to enjoy yourself.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 5 months ago

My grandpa used to do this way before smartphones, I remember his 30.000 days birthday when I was a kid.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 5 months ago (3 children)

I did this for a while in anticipation of my 10,000 Days birthday. I took that day off work and did nothing but play games, chill on the deck, drink beer, smoked a bit of weed and spun Tool's "10,000 Days" album after smashing a pizza down my gullet for supper.

It was a great day.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago

I thought “that sounds cool” until I realised I’ve past that mark by 800 days 🤪

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (2 children)

How many years is that, roughly 30? I should try something like it but with a bigger number

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

That's long enough

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

"It just started saying 'yikes' like five years back."

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

from a 15 year old perspective old was awhile ago for me.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 5 months ago

Not weird at all, just a different perspective they weren't previously aware of. One group I know of that does this is people who follow stoicism. Memento mori!

[–] [email protected] 8 points 5 months ago

Everyone does it. Every year of so we gather everyone we know together to commemorate.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 5 months ago

These guys sell a physical tracker so there must be some interest in the concept.

https://shop-us.kurzgesagt.org/products/lifespan-calendar-poster

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago

It's futile, as you have zero idea when you're going to die, every day could be your last man. I think what you're doing is a good way to get some sort of anxiety disorder and I'd be happy to be wrong in this case as I wouldn't wish that shit to anyone.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago (1 children)

4,000 weeks. 750k hours. That’s what the average human gets.

This is how I keep count.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

When you tell specific numbers, the human life feels short.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

It is wise, not weird.

Not many could stand that thought. That's why they get upset. You are mentally stronger.

I remember how weird it came off when a coworker was announcing her 30th birthday with "One more year (or one less?)"

Consider tracking your statistical life expectation too (it changes over time), and maybe an additional personal guess about how many remaining days you still got.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 5 months ago

If you use the actuary life tables for your expected lifespan, you can have a true mid-life crisis when you turn 39 or 41 depending if your male or female.

Or if you’re the age of one of the presidential candidates you’ll know what it feels like to have under 10 years of life expectancy remaining.

Anyway, I do think it’s weird. You have plenty of time to waste at your age. It would be a misuse of your youth to try and allocate your time wisely.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

Its a bit odd,but aren't we all a bit odd?

I would rather focus on the here and now and live fully, rather then focussing on how much time you have left. Because the time you have left is actually an unknown.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago

that sounds stressful and depressing

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

I don't know why your friend doesn't like it. Ask your friend why they don't like it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

I'd rather be weird than normal.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

Just remember, if you enjoyed a time it's not wasted. Being prolific is good and all, but don't feel guilty for having fun. It's not a waste.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

I don’t really have any input to your question, but I do wonder what the app is called as it sounds interesting to me.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

The default Samsung calendar app has a widget which shows how long since/until a chosen calendar event. Its probably something like that.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (3 children)

Christ. This is morbid. Why would you have a clock ticking down to the end of your life??

[–] [email protected] 5 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Is it? The only difference between them and you is that you're not paying attention to the clock

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago

Yes. Being hyper focused on your own mortality isn’t healthy

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago

You're the negative

They're tracking the days they have lived

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago

To remind you that this is it, so make it a good one

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago
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