“You get a strange feeling when you’re about to leave a place, I told him, like you’ll not only miss the people you love but you’ll miss the person you are now at this time and this place, because you’ll never be this way ever again.”

Azar Nafisi, Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books

I feel this a lot. When I leave a place, I’m not just leaving that place I’m also leaving what I was and who I was in that time and place. And while we can remember it, I don’t think we can ever be it again. At least not exactly.

I suppose some theoretical physicists say that time exists indefinitely, all times continue to exist. So, some part of me, perhaps still is that person in that time, in that place. But I can’t feel it, nor do I think that I can return to it. At least not completely.

What would it feel like to take current memories, feelings and experiences and return to an earlier time anyway? Would we really be happier or enjoy it more, or would we get lost, stuck in a time we loved, without ever moving forward and experiencing the future. Is it good that time marches on, at least from our perspective?

I originally drafted this post on April 24, 2021, and just recently came back to it as I was exploring my blog and trying to clean house a bit. I thought I would post it after I poked at ChatGPT-3.5 with some ideas (I was saving my ChatGPT-4 message quota – 25 messages every three hours for other projects).

Here was my first approach:

Anna: What could be extrapolated from this quote? (quote from above)

ChatGPT-3.5: This quote suggests that leaving a place can evoke complex emotions in a person. In addition to missing the people they love, they may also feel a sense of loss for the version of themselves they are at that particular moment and in that particular place. This is because the experiences and memories associated with that place and time have shaped and influenced who they are, and once they leave, they will never be able to recapture that exact same experience or feeling again. It speaks to the idea that our environment and the people in it play a significant role in shaping our identity and sense of self.

Then I just decided to run with the questions from the end of my original thought process, and expand if I wanted.

Anna: What would it feel like to take current memories, feelings and experiences and return to an earlier time anyway?

ChatGPT-3.5: Returning to an earlier time with current memories, feelings, and experiences would be impossible, as time only moves forward. However, if we were to imagine the possibility, it would likely feel disorienting and confusing. We are shaped by our experiences, and if we were to return to an earlier time with our current memories, we would be different people, with different perspectives and emotions. We might struggle to reconcile our current selves with our past selves, and we might find it difficult to relate to the people and experiences we encounter. Furthermore, we might also find it challenging to make decisions and act on them, as we would be aware of the potential consequences of our actions. Overall, while it might be tempting to imagine what it would be like to return to an earlier time with current memories, feelings, and experiences, it is an impossible scenario that is likely to cause more confusion and discomfort than anything else.

Anna: What could be the benefits?

ChatGPT-3.5: While it is impossible to actually return to an earlier time with current memories, feelings, and experiences, there can still be some benefits to reflecting on our past experiences and how they have shaped us into who we are today.

One potential benefit is that it can give us a greater sense of self-awareness and insight into our own behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. By understanding how our past experiences have influenced us, we can become more conscious of our own biases and patterns of behavior, and work to make positive changes in our lives.

Reflecting on our past experiences can also help us to appreciate how far we have come and how much we have grown. It can be easy to get caught up in the stresses of daily life and forget to acknowledge the progress we have made. Looking back on our past can help us to recognize the challenges we have overcome and the lessons we have learned, which can give us a greater sense of gratitude and perspective.

Overall, while it is not possible to return to an earlier time with current memories, feelings, and experiences, reflecting on our past can help us to better understand ourselves, appreciate our growth and progress, and make positive changes in our lives.

Final quesiton from my post, let’s see where it goes.

Anna: Is it good that time marches on, at least from our perspective?

ChatGPT-3.5: From our human perspective, time marching on can be both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, the passage of time allows us to grow, learn, and evolve as individuals and as a society. We are able to build on the knowledge and experiences of the past, and make progress towards a better future. We are also able to heal from past traumas, as time allows us to gain perspective, process our emotions, and move on.

On the other hand, the passage of time can also be difficult to bear. It means that we must say goodbye to people and experiences that we love, and that we can never go back to a time when things were simpler or easier. We may feel regret for things we didn’t do or accomplish, and we may fear the unknown future.

Ultimately, the passage of time is an inevitable part of life, and how we choose to perceive it is up to us. We can choose to focus on the positive aspects of growth and progress, or we can choose to mourn the things we have lost. It is important to acknowledge both the blessings and challenges that come with the passage of time, and to find ways to make the most of the time we have.

I like to challenge it sometimes, how short can it summarize something.

Anna: Summarize in three words.

ChatGPT-3.5: Time: Progress and Loss.

To close out, I thought I’d try a similar question to ChatGPT-4, with no conversational context, first question in a new chat, just to compare thoughts.

Anna: Summarize time in three words.

ChatGPT-4: Inexorable, fleeting, precious.