What are the symbols of time you can think of?

Time can and often is represented by a symbol or object. Some of the more notable symbols include: pendulums, the New Year’s baby, count down music, sun dials, rust, cobwebs, dust, the Grim Reaper, tarot cards, astrology signs, old shoes, antiques, and there are many more. These symbols or objects have all become associated with the passage of time for various reasons. The Grim Reaper represents death while the New Year’s baby represents birth.  Rust and cobwebs both represent something old.  Count down music, sun dials and hour glasses represent the passage of time.  Each object has a history and its own association with time.  Merely seeing one of these objects creates a myriad of associations within our minds as to time and its relevance to our lives.

Perhaps one of our most familiar and lovable associations lies in our fascination with antiques.  Some people love antiques simply because they are old.  In the original Star Trek series, Captain Kirk loved old books. This perplexed Lt. Spock since he felt that e-readers and the computer reader were much more practical. Spock was way ahead of his time but now even the old retirees and baby boomers are today using Kindles and Nooks.  Spock could not fathom the need to associate with a symbol of the past. Spock was not only practical (as most of you can attest who are using e-readers) but Spock was also not nostalgic. Of course, Spock was not supposed to have emotions.  

Most antiques represent some type of emotional association for us.  The old desk that was just like our grandfathers desk.  The egg beater that was just like the one our mom used to make us pancakes with every Sunday morning after church.  Antiques remind us of the past and of our own transience in the present. They bring the past to life and help us to live it over and over again. Our Grandfather and mom can live on in the antiques we surround ourselves with.  Symbols have meaning in the present due to the emotional attachments they help to recreate. 

What are some symbols of time that are important to you?  What symbols help you connect to your past? What are some antiques that you most dearly love?  What meaning and emotions do these have for you? Why? Do you value old things more or new? Why? What if there were no antiques in the world?