How Cultures View Time Differently
Not all cultures view time in exactly the same manner. Western cultures take in time for linear purposes-based on a clear pasts, presents, and futures. A tremendous amount of time is spent teaching people to use their time well, never wasting any at all, and always creating and striving to accomplish. Other Indigenous and Eastern cultures view time as cyclical by its nature; therefore, events and experiences repeat in patterns. Celebrations are made according to the cycles of seasons, festivals, or life events, so time is there, not just to manage but also to live with rhythm.
If time were to stop, then there would be no more of the two viewpoints we just outlined. Whether you view time as a straight line or a cyclical circle, everything’s going to stop. This thought experiment forces us to rethink the importance we give to time and whether or not we should start living in harmony with the moments that we have rather than racing against the clock.
