The "Displacement" of That Morning Moment

This morning when I woke up, I felt something was a bit off. The light outside was brighter than usual, and when I picked up my phone, it was just past seven. But a glance at the mechanical clock on the wall revealed it was stuck at eight. Did my phone and clock have a "disagreement"? I paused for a moment and then suddenly realized — today marks the start of daylight saving time in Finland! All clocks were set back an hour after three fifty-nine in the morning. This means that for those of us living in Finland, we "gained" an hour!

From this moment on, Finland's time shifted from being six hours behind China to seven hours behind. Aside from the numerical change, it seemed like nothing else had changed in life: the seaside outside remained calm, the trams on the elevated tracks still clanged by, and people walking their dogs downstairs strolled leisurely along the street. Yet strangely, I could feel a subtle difference inside — the sky seemed a bit brighter than usual, and the pace of life felt a little slower due to the extra hour of sleep. It felt as if the whole world had gently stepped back a little, while I remained in place, enjoying this "stolen" tranquility.

That Year, the "Time Reversal" in New Zealand

This subtle sense of displacement suddenly reminded me of an experience during my trip to New Zealand in 2017. It was a clear morning in April, and we were staying at a small seaside inn on the South Island. The next morning, the bedside alarm clock rang on time, but my phone displayed an hour earlier. We even asked the innkeeper — a kind old lady. She smiled and explained, "Today marks the start of daylight saving time; all clocks need to be set back an hour." That day happened to be when New Zealand switched from daylight saving time back to standard time.

In the autumn of the Southern Hemisphere, and now in the autumn of the Northern Hemisphere, eight years have passed, and having changed hemispheres, time gently "reversed" around me again — nothing had changed, yet I could vaguely sense a similar rhythm reappearing. It's quite interesting to think about; the Earth has made a full rotation, yet we humans are always adjusting our rhythms in various ways, as if playing a game of 'cat and mouse' with time.

China Also Had "Daylight Saving Time"

Out of curiosity, I looked up some information. The reason Finland adjusts its time is quite simple — mainly to better utilize daylight and to align with the European Union's unified time system. Speaking of time adjustments, you might not know that China also had a period of "daylight saving time" in its history! From 1986 to 1991, every spring, clocks would be set forward an hour, and then set back in the autumn. Older generations say it was to make better use of daylight and save energy. However, it was eventually abandoned because it became too cumbersome — broadcasting, train schedules, and daily routines all had to be drastically changed. I was still young back then; probably only the older generation remembers the experience of repeatedly adjusting the clocks during those years.

Time Has Never Been Under Our Control

Humans always want to "manage time" in various ways: adjusting clocks, setting alarms, chasing efficiency. But time itself doesn't care about these things; it continues to flow at its own pace. This morning, in that slightly brighter morning light, I made myself a cup of coffee. That extra hour didn’t make me more diligent, nor did it help me accomplish anything remarkable. It simply existed quietly, making me realize that perhaps what truly matters is not controlling time, but feeling time — learning to coexist with it rather than always thinking about resisting it.

If one day, time really "gives" you an extra hour, what would you do with it? Would you curl up on the sofa and daydream, read a long-lost book, or call a distant friend? I’d love to hear your story.