40+ Pictures That Capture The Subtle Passing Of Time
I was talking with my parents the other day about my great-grandma and how I felt lucky to have met her before she passed away. She was 99 and had seen so much change in her lifetime.
But then I thought that I had, too. Everyone has; we just don’t always realize it until all that time has passed. Read on through this fascinating list to see these pictures that capture the passage of time on camera, and leave a comment with your favorite or if you have your own examples!
That’s A Hard Worker
After repeated use, even things like our keyboards and computers get worn down.
A lot of the time the letters are the first thing to rub off, but this person has used this keyboard so long, they’ve made dents.
Who Else Has A Favorite Mug?
This person has used the same mug to make their tea so often that a spiral has formed on the bottom.
The pattern matches what this person stirs their milk and sugar every morning.
You Have A Favorite Mug, But What About A Favorite Spoon?
According to this user, their grandmother has used the same spoon to stir their coffee for 45 years.
It sounds crazy but the now-square tip of that spoon doesn’t lie.
A Well-Loved Kitty
The poster was gifted with this stuffed cat in 1995 from their great aunt. After her passing, they found the same stuffed cat in pristine condition.
Under the post, people told stories of replacing their children’s toys with replicas because they were getting old and gross.
Now That’s A Whiskey Collection
According to the person who posted this picture, each bottle has whiskey in it from the same cask, but at different stages of maturity.
Each bottle is one year older than the last.
Some Things Stand The Test Of Time
Look at this absolutely beautiful church. But, even though it may have survived through a lot of changes around it, it found a way to change itself.
This church is a beautiful white color, which can only be seen when you wash years of dirt and exhaust away.
Just A Few Weeks Can Make A Difference, Too
Time can change things over hundreds of years, or even just a few weeks.
The user who posted this photo said it took the Australian heat less than a month to warp this pen that was left forgotten in a car.
An Actual Stepping Stone
It’s clear this boulder has been here a long time. So many people have climbed it that actual foot holes have been carved out.
It’s no wonder it’s such a popular spot — look at that view!
That’s A Lot Of Ideas
Even though a lot of time may not have passed when you finish a notebook, it’s neat to see all those pages filled with things that have come to matter to you.
This really makes you appreciate the hard work you did in the past, and look forward to the clean slate of the future.
Those Are Strong Bushes
They have left the semi-circular patterns on the fence behind them.
I wonder if this will be something that keeps happening as the plants get bigger, or if they’ll move away from the fence.
This Looks A Little Trippy
This trail is La Meauffe, Manche in France.
According to the person who posted it, this trail is indented into the ground so far because it has been used by people passing through for centuries.
It’s In Pretty Good Condition!
The person who posted this said that their grandma got it from their mother and has been using it for 70 years since then.
This just goes to show you that some things never change. Especially our love of cake.
This Is A Little Spooky
This bench in Union Station has seen so much traffic that the outline of people has been left on the wall behind it.
They’re kind of like ghosts watching you on your commute.
A Somber Reminder
Even though WWI ended over a century ago, there are still reminders of it everywhere. This is a picture of The Somme in Northern France.
You can see the outline of the trenches and artillery shell craters even though it’s been overgrown by nature.
What A Shame!
This photo was taken from an old building.
When they renovated it for a company that was taking over, they used a drop ceiling to cover up these beautiful chandeliers and crown moulding.
This Is Kind Of Strange
This parking lot has been worn down from use, but underneath it is a checkered floor from a building that would have been there before.
There are no other signs of the building that once existed.
Follow The Trail!
This hill is in Donnelly’s Hollow, Ireland.
The little foot holes have been left by generations of children crossing over the hill to get to school or go into town.
I Didn’t Know These Would Wear Off
This is a very high traffic area. It’s the waiting area to get to the Eiffel Tower in France.
The Eiffel Tower is 130 years old! But this landing is probably younger than that.
This Is Crazy!
Someone cutting down a tree found one with three bullets embedded in the tree.
The tree just kept growing around them, proving once again how powerful nature is and how resilient it is to humans.
That Is One Dedicated Bird
According to the person who posted this photo, this image is of a bird’s nest that had been built inside an unused chimney.
The nest is from over twenty generations of bird families!
The World Has Changed So Much
Some of these pencils are old enough that they say they were made in West Germany.
West Germany doesn’t exist anymore now that the Berlin Wall has come down and Germany reunited.
Isn’t This Beautiful?
Someone found an old, dried artichoke and brought it home, only to find it open up into a beautiful flower.
Artichokes are a member of the thistle family, which explains it’s prickly look.
Life Is About Growth, Right?
It’s hard to tell but this tree’s trunk is grown right through the chain-link fence.
It almost looks like a goo that has absorbed the metal! Nature does some pretty crazy things.
Any Landscaper Knows What Happened Here
You might be confused how this shows time, but a groundskeeper would know these are headstones where the bases have eroded from weed-wacking.
These stones have truly endured a lot.
I’m Surprised Brick Houses Are Still Standing!
Bricks are supposed to be extremely durable so it’s shocking to see two of the exact same bricks beside each other.
Hopefully, the bricks my house is built from don’t erode like this.
This Pipe Is Practically Useless
This cross-section of an old water pipe shows off the intense layers of limescale build-up.
It gets worse when you realize this is what the build-up of cholesterol looks like in our arteries. Ew!
Like A Candle In The Wind(ow) – Elton John
And it seems to me, you lived your life, like a candle being warped by the sitting in the sun by a window.
Considering candles are wax that is meant to melt, we should have seen this coming.
Look Closely To See The Change In Hair Color
This hair follicle is from someone who takes a certain medication that makes their hair turn white.
You can see the change in their hair color as they go on and off the medication.
The Not-So-Magical 8 Ball
This fortune telling magic 8 ball isn’t so exciting when the fluid starts to evaporate.
At least it now gives you some options. Still, it’s just not the answers we needed.
You Gotta Go Where You Grow
We’ve seen nature do some pretty cool things over time but watching a tree grow entirely horizontal is pretty interesting.
I’m just wondering how it’s still standing and hasn’t tipped over yet.
Talk About Worn Down
These are both the same knife, just one has been worn down from repeated sharpening.
Like any person who loves their craft will tell you, when you have a favorite tool, you hold onto it until you can’t anymore.
A True Glimpse Into History
Instead of tearing down the original building, new ones were built around the old one.
When you think about it, it’s a great way to modernize but keep that historic charm.
I Didn’t Know It Looked Like That!
That is one well-worn trackpad. It’s worn all the way down to the electronics inside.
I’m not sure what I thought it would look like, but this was not it.
The Past, Present, And Future
When you find something that you love, why not buy it over and over forever? Let’s hope that they never discontinue that hat.
Otherwise, what would this person do? Find a new hat?!
It Looks Like A Giant Pop Tab
This is the pedal of an old public piano that has obviously been enjoyed very much by all the people who have stopped to play it.
I’m sure the people listening loved it as well.
Nature Preservers Even If It Bends
These trees are growing strong, but not quite strong enough to resist the push of those vents.
Eventually, over time, the trees began to bend and started to grow that way.
There Are Some Superstitious People In This Town
Looks like there are a lot of people in this town who believe it is bad luck to walk under two poles leaning like that.
Thus, the well-worn path around it.
That Pillowcase Is Made Of Tough Stuff
These two pillowcases are from the same bed sheet set, but one of them has been used almost every day for 40 years.
The other one had been tucked away in a closet, just waiting for its moment to shine.
A Beautiful Memory To Hold Onto
This is a silver dollar that had been carried around in the pocket of this person’s grandfather for over twenty years.
It would feel really emotional to hold it, knowing that he did every day for so long.
Think Of All The People Who Have Walked Past This Wall
This wall is leading out of the train station.
It had been walked by so many times with people knocking it with their bags that eventually, the bricks in the wall started to wear down.
That’s A Busy Fax Machine
This fax machine/printer is a busy place! So much paper had come out of this thing that the paper has started to carve out grooves in the tray.
Let’s hope it gets to retire soon.
