Spacetime

We are creatures that experience time linearly. The universe isn’t so simple, in terms of physics at least. I think of this whenever I discount anything in my past as less real or significant than the present–whenever I’m tempted to “mourn what is gone.”

Sure, it doesn’t change the fact that what’s gone is still gone in my perspective. But it gives me comfort knowing that just because something has passed doesn’t mean it hasn’t existed or “doesn’t exist anymore,” in a way. Just because something is “gone” from my perspective doesn’t mean it was never real. It will have always existed as far as the universe is concerned. The past “still exists” as far as the universe is concerned.

Even if I can’t see it anymore.

At least. Theoretically. Or mathematically. I won’t pretend to understand it completely. Or even sufficiently.

Related concept: growing block universe

Of course, nothing here touches on the idea of “alternate universes” yet. That’s another story.