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.
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…
You do you, hon.
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)
A little bit. Most people just count the years.
I’ve found the number of the days feels much more than the years, and has greater impact, even though it’s all equivalent.
Whatever works for you man. Screw what anyone thinks about what you do. Do your thing.
Odd is fine, weird is fine, if you find it useful embrace it
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.
I do the same but I use years instead.
It’s objectively weird in the sense that most people don’t do that.
What? Most people celebrate birthdays. How is that not essentially the same thing? lol
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.
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 is has not been deemed socially acceptable.
What would be weirder is an app counting down how much time you have left.
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
Meh. Doesn’t hurt anyone so no one should give a shit.
Everyone is weird and crazy at that age. Try not to overthink things and just try to enjoy yourself.
Mine just reads: Old
from a 15 year old perspective old was awhile ago for me.
“It just started saying ‘yikes’ like five years back.”
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).
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!
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.
It is wise, not weird.
Not many could stand that thought. That’s why they get upset. You are mentally stronger.
Consider tracking your statistical life expectation too, and maybe an additional personal guess about how many remaining days you still got.
