The Relative Value of 2 SECONDS--an Hypothetical Standard Unit of TimeApr 19 '09 Write an essay on this topic.The Bottom Line You can do a LOT in 2 seconds, my hypothetical "basic unit" of time. Find out why inside, and add your own experiences! INTRODUCTION _____________________________________________________________________________ This is-in a way-an extension of my other essay on time. In a nutshell, I'm proposing that the span of 2 seconds is an integral unit of time, as experienced by human beings. A Little "Deeper"... _____________________________________________________________________________ Think of what you have experienced in about 2 seconds, but in this regard... When you are involved in an automobile accident, 2 seconds (or less) seems like an eternity--your mind slices up ("interpolates") this time to increase your efficacy in dealing with the situation. When you are potentially facing death like this, sometimes your life flashes before your eyes. A very good (and highly life-experienced) friend of mine said that he experienced this "life flash" when he jumped from 7 stories at the age of 14. He calculated that it took about 2 seconds to hit the ground--from start to finish. Yet he saw his whole life-from baby to age 14-in that time span. It ended badly, his knee hitting his head, but he survived. I would be very keen to hear your stories of seeing this "life flash," and how quickly you think it happened. A "Story".... _____________________________________________________________________________ A karate master friend of mine has determined that it takes "2 seconds" to actually be knocked-out. He's been KO'd many times. On one occasion, he was kicked in the groin--but he knew he was going to lose consciousness (this was during a karate practice LONG AGO outside of the United States). What he did next was to lunge at his opponent, and hit him in the temple with a backhand--and then he passed out. When he came to, he discovered that his opponent had also been knocked-out. His point here was that-even if you have received an incapacitating blow, if your mind is strongly-focused and concentrated, you can still do something--and this could save your life. Obviously, once you are unconscious, you are extremely vulnerable. Back on "Track"... _____________________________________________________________________________ Let's consider that "2 seconds" again. It seems to me, if we have the aforementioned evidence that a 14 year-old can experience his entire life, in the span of about 2 seconds, that we can do quite a bit in that time--mentally, physically, or spiritually. Consider this in terms of our human/mental potential. Just the other night, I was walking towards a crosswalk. The light indicated that I had about "7 seconds." I was discouraged at first, but I calculated-and became reassured-that I could sprint far enough across the street in that time (I consider myself to be a "faster" runner, for the record--you might NOT want to try this). In fact, I concluded that I had PLENTY of time. So I proceeded to do just that-successfully-knowing what I was capable of. Someone else might well have concluded that such an endeavor may not have been feasible. By Extension _____________________________________________________________________________ When performing a sport that depends on reacting to a count (1! 2! 3! etc.), ever notice how everyone starts getting "inspired" and speeding up, when one or a few get "fired up?" This usually happens after a lull, and demonstrates that--"Yes, there is more energy in that well!" Just when you thought you had run out of "gas" and hit a "limit," you reach down, get a "runner's high" with a release of endorphins, adrenaline, or whatever--and then bust right through that "limit." When I've focused on the mind being able to do the "life flash" in about 2 seconds, I've been able to increase my reaction speed in relevant situations (of course, I cannot say exactly what has led to my perception of increased speed, but I'm postulating that this at least plays a role). Your mileage may vary. What is a "Limit" Anyways? _____________________________________________________________________________ For years, it was thought that the "4-minute mile" barrier could not be broken. Suddenly, one person, then another, did it, and then it became a standard for being a world-class runner. So this "limit" is an artificially-imposed statement of what is or is not possible, according to the "available evidence"--in essence, a "mental block." One person (or many) become of the opinion that something is "not possible," some others reject that and pursue more (and they are usually laughed at), and then mass progress eventually follows. These pioneers who pursue what is popularly thought to be "crazy" and impossible are the top 1-2% in human history, are responsible for 99% of human advancement/technology, as asserted by Tom Muzila in his excellent book, Mental Karate. So a "limit" usually only exists in the minds of the thinkers. OPEN-ENDED CONCLUSION... _____________________________________________________________________________ You have had countless experiences in the span of about 2 seconds--what do you think? Please leave comments with your thoughts, and we will finish this essay together. If you haven't read my other time essay, please take a quick peek at it. Some of the things discussed were time's relativity and experiential dependence on one's mental, physical, and (even) spiritual fitness. A "higher level" person is more aware of (and thus more in control of) their time-simple self-discipline-and so could accomplish more in a given span, consistently, than a less-trained, lower level person. Thank you all very much! Some of the BEST TIMES of my LIFE were spent HERE! You Might Also Enjoy These Essays... How to Whittle Down Your Monthly Bills and BUY Yourself Some TIME! 3 Simple Self-Defense Moves EVERY Woman Should Know! How to Find Computer & Electronics Deals How Do You Know You're In Love? Social Commentary on Obama's Historic Win The Credit Crunch You WON'T Be Expecting! On America's Subprime Mortgage Catastrophe How To Eat Well In VEGAS--DIRT CHEAP! Here are Some of my FAVE Reviews... Jakks Eyeclops Bionicam Portable Video Microscope Kingston 4Gb MicroSD Flash Card w/USB Adapter-Great Gift! Emile Hirsch Walks..."Into the Wild" Tom Muzila's new book-Mental Karate Hewlett Packard LASERJET P1006 Rubbermaid Soap-dispensing Dish Wand Tomtom One 3rd ed. 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