mesmerizing time stoppers

Last night, as I was sitting watching the 4th of July fireworks, I started thinking about their mesmerizing quality and the effect they have on time.

Time doesn’t really exist when you’re watching fireworks. You’re there for the show — however long it lasts. You don’t watch the clock, or anything else for that matter, because you don’t want to miss a second. You eagerly await every pop, watching for your favorites, oohing and aahing. There are lots of delighted inhales, wows, and happy spouse hand squeezes. There is anticipation and experience and wonder. It’s not everyday we get to see fireworks! This is a Special Occasion.

Time slows down. Or speeds up? The finale explodes before your eyes, the crescendo of amazement, your jaw drops, you all exclaim how awesome this year’s show was. You check the time… wow, it’s been eighteen minutes! Could’ve been five, could’ve been thirty, for all you knew.

I love this magic.

It doesn’t matter if you began the show with a racing mind or didn’t feel settled. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing tomorrow or that you will have to pack up and go home when the fireworks end.

In this moment, only the fireworks matter. This is the ultimate moment, the final celebration. It’s a traditional display of unity, too; you know friends and family and fellow citizens everywhere are watching fireworks with you. Also — it’s just cool! Bursts of light and sparkle and sound and magic!

I think all these aspects are important — wonder, fun, celebration, patriotism, community — and I also really appreciate anything that creates a time warp and lets you just exist with that exact experience. It got me wondering what else I could do more often to temporarily seemingly exist outside of time.

What do you love? What engulfs you and pulls you closer? What captures your focus entirely and calmly, delightedly? What stops time for you?