Maybe we humans, in our collective impulse toward progress, have so woven our lives into such an ever more accurate accounting of the space-time continuum that we have created a new yet artificial threat—seeing the passage of time as something to dread rather than enjoy. When I was a kid, there were only two clocks in the entire house. My dad's watch was tucked into his pocket, and Mom didn't even wear one. But today? Clocks, clocks, and more clocks abound. They hammer the minutes away in every room—every appliance has its own, and even little kids carry smartphones. In those earlier years, we worried about lost days. Now, we worry about lost minutes. Worst of all, we have been indoctrinated into fearing the greatest gift of all—the privilege to grow old.