Speed Bumps in Time: The Moments That Slow Us Down
How birthdays, anniversaries, and meaningful moments help us make sense of time and focus on what matters most.
Jan 25, 2026
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If you’re of a certain age, you’ve probably noticed how time seems to pick up speed as the years go by. With the responsibilities of adulthood accumulating and daily routines settling in, fewer memories stand out, and days begin to blur together.
Then, something interrupts that rhythm. It could be a milestone like a birthday, wedding anniversary, or graduation. Or you might hit one of these speedbumps in time while listening to a song or reconnecting with an old friend.
However it happens, you stop and ask yourself: Where did all the time go?
Such moments — and that question in particular — have a way of pulling us out of autopilot. They invite reflection on how we’ve spent our days and what we still hope to make room for. In those moments, perspective widens, history decompresses, and time slows.
I’ve been thinking a lot about time this year as my family enters new chapters and the company I started marks its 50th anniversary. The years may feel like they’re passing in a blink of an eye, but they’re filled with stories and relationships that reveal themselves — if you stop to notice them.
The moments that make you stop
A few weekends ago, Marylou and I were babysitting several of our grandkids. Two of our children and their spouses had dinner plans, and we were happy to step in. What followed became one of those moments that brings everything into view.
Our oldest granddaughter stayed only briefly before heading to the movies with friends, thanks to her newly issued driver’s license. I walked her to the car and watched her slide into the driver’s seat, wave goodbye, and pull away down the street.
Standing in the driveway, my mind drifted back to meeting her in Central Park when she was barely a year old. I remembered walking away after that playdate as my daughter pushed the stroller in the opposite direction.
Where did all the time go?
Marylou and I talked about it after our babysitting duties were over. In an instant, 16-plus years came into focus. Memories resurfaced, and we were left feeling grateful — for the moments recalled and for our children, who have become such wonderful parents.
Why we mark the years
Milestones play a similar role. Birthdays, weddings, graduations, and anniversaries draw a circle around a chapter of life and invite us to reflect on what unfolded within it.
They also give us a common language for our memories. Instead of recalling life as a blur of days, we remember it as a sequence of shared moments — before the wedding, after graduation, when the kids were small. Milestones organize experience in a way that makes it easier to tell our stories to one another and to ourselves.
Some milestones extend beyond our personal lives. This year, for instance, the United States marks its 250th anniversary, a moment that invites reflection not only on where the country began but also on the values and sacrifices that continue to shape it.
Like personal milestones, these collective anniversaries slow the rush of events and impose structure on long arcs of history, making it possible to see patterns that would otherwise remain invisible. Progress becomes easier to measure when viewed across generations.
Fifty years and counting
As I mentioned earlier, this year marks the 50th anniversary of 1-800-Flowers.com. Just writing that sentence created one of those temporal speed bumps. It feels like yesterday that I was a 24-year-old social worker/bartender unlocking the doors to my flower shop for the first time.
Where did all the time go?
Like any milestone anniversary, this one is about pausing to process everything that’s transpired over the past half century. There are the technology shifts, the big and little decisions, risks taken, mistakes made, and lessons learned.
Most importantly, it’s about celebrating the relationships that made all the difference — with the growers, florists, team members, and customers who trusted us with the most personal moments of their lives and allowed us to play a small role in them.
Over the year ahead, I want this milestone to serve as a pause. It’s a chance to share stories, reflect on what we’ve learned, and look ahead with gratitude for where we’ve been and excitement for where we’re going.
Whether they mark the longevity of a company, the growth of a grandchild, or the endurance of a nation, milestones do more than measure years. They’re reminders to make sure the time that moves so quickly is spent on what matters most.
All the best,
Jim
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AUTHOR
Jim McCann is the founder and chairman of 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. as well as a business leader, author, and philanthropist with a passion for helping people deliver smiles. Devoted to helping others, he also founded Smile Farms, a 501(c)3 organization that provides meaningful jobs in agricultural settings to young adults and adults with developmental disabilities.
