The Story of Sandakan, Sabah: From Colonial Port to Ecotourism Gem

Recently, the following video clip with its soothing country song of Sandakan have stirred sweet memories of this seaside town of my birthplace where I spent the first 12 years of my life.

Harbour Mall, Sandakan

Click here for "Sandakan Town".

The lyrics are spot on as they capture the essence of this township within these few verses:- 

In Sandakan town where time flows slow

Old buildings speak tales that only locals know

People here are friendly always lend a hand

In a little Hong Kong of North Borneo's land

Where streets aren't clean and work is rough

Yet the smiles come easy when life gets tough 

Harmony's a treasure in each friendly face

Hardworking dreams of a better place

I love Sandakan my hometown so true

Where old meets new and skies are blue

In this small town my heart will stay

Sandakan town in everyway

From market days to fishing nights

Living life in simple lights

Where palms sway and children play

Every single moment feels like home each day

The echoes of history in every town square

With tales of ancestors in the sea salt air

Here's to Sandakan standing tall and proud

In every heartbeat in every crowd

From morning sun to twilights gleam

We live our lives in a peaceful dream

Though the town might look a bit unclean

It's the place I cherish, my humble scene

I love Sandakan my hometown so true

Where old meets new and skies are blue

In this small town my heart will stay

Sandakan town in everyway 

Old buildings speak tales that only locals know

Back then there wasn't any traffic lights on the streets and we get by with roundabouts to direct traffic flow. Personal memories are aplenty of this rustic but thriving town where enterprising spirits and dreams of a better tomorrow live on amongst its residence. Just sharing two recollections here as follows:

a) There is a "Jalan Singapura" (Singapore Road) in Sandakan besides the padang leading to some residential flats.

b) The name of Sandakan's signature tart comprising a round and flat madeleine-texture base with swirls of a composition of white, light brown and yellow meringue on top has evolved from 'chicken-poo' to 'cow-dung' and to the current name of 'UFO'. Here is a variation of it by Bakery M in Singapore:-

UFO Tart x Mochi and UFO Tart

Click here for Sandakan A Timeless Destination 2024.

Click here for Sandakan, Borneo Sabah Highlights | Malaysia.

Click here for Road to SMK St Michael, Sandakan..ex student SMK St Michael Sandakan 2005-2010.

Click here for Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia.

Here are some further facts and information about this 'Little Hong Kong' as generated with the assistance of ChatGPT:-

"Founding and Early Days of Sandakan, Sabah, East Malaysia

Sandakan, located on the northeastern coast of Sabah (formerly British North Borneo), has a rich and layered history. The town's modern founding dates back to 1879, but its history goes further, tied to early trade and maritime routes in the Sulu Sea.

Originally, the settlement was known as Kampung German, named after German entrepreneur William Pryer, who served as the first Resident of the East Coast under the British North Borneo Chartered Company (BNBCC). The area had previously been a small trading outpost, and Pryer selected it as the site for a new administrative capital after the earlier settlement in Pulau Timbang was destroyed by fire.

Pryer named the new settlement Elopura, meaning “Beautiful Town,” but the local name Sandakan—derived from the Suluk word "Sandakan" (meaning “the place that was pawned”)—prevailed and became the official name.

Colonial Era and Economic Growth

Under the BNBCC, Sandakan grew rapidly in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It became the capital of British North Borneo and developed into a bustling port town. Its location made it ideal for exporting timber, tobacco, and later, palm oil and rubber. Sandakan was famously known as the "Little Hong Kong" due to its vibrant Chinese community and active trade links.

During this time, Sandakan saw the influx of immigrants—mainly from China and the Philippines—who contributed to its multicultural character and economic development.

World War II and the Sandakan Death Marches

One of the most tragic chapters in Sandakan's history occurred during World War II, when the Japanese Imperial Army occupied the town from 1942 to 1945.

The Sandakan POW camp held over 2,400 Allied prisoners, mostly Australians and British. In 1945, as the war turned against Japan, the infamous Sandakan Death Marches began. Prisoners were forced to march over 260 kilometers to Ranau under brutal conditions. Only six prisoners survived—those who escaped. This event remains one of the most horrific war crimes in Southeast Asia and is commemorated today at the Sandakan Memorial Park, located at the site of the original POW camp.

Sandakan was heavily bombed by Allied forces during the final stages of the war, leaving the town in ruins.

Post-War Rebuilding and Modern Development

Following the war, Sandakan lost its status as capital of British North Borneo when the administration moved to Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu) in 1946. Despite this, Sandakan remained economically significant, especially in the timber industry, and retained a strong commercial presence.

Throughout the second half of the 20th century, the town rebuilt itself, modernizing infrastructure and expanding into sectors like agriculture, tourism, and services. The port of Sandakan continued to be a key hub for exports, particularly timber and palm oil.

Sandakan Today: A Hub of Nature, Culture, and Community 

Today, Sandakan is Sabah's second-largest town and a melting pot of cultures, with significant Chinese, Malay, Filipino, and indigenous communities. It plays an essential role in the state's economy and continues to be a center of biodiversity and conservation efforts.

1. Ecotourism and Nature Attractions

Sandakan is often referred to as the “Gateway to Borneo’s Wildlife.” Some of its most iconic attractions include:

Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre: One of the world’s most renowned sanctuaries for rescued and orphaned orangutans. Visitors can observe orangutans during feeding times and learn about conservation efforts.

Click here for EXPLORING SABAH | Orangutans, Sun Bears & Sandakan’s Hidden Gems!

Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre: Located near Sepilok, this center provides shelter for rescued sun bears and promotes education on the species.

Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary: Home to the endemic proboscis monkey, famous for its long nose and pot belly. It offers close-up viewing platforms within the mangrove forest.

Kinabatangan River: A haven for river cruises and wildlife spotting, including orangutans, pygmy elephants, hornbills, crocodiles, and proboscis monkeys.

Click here for Our Dutch-Malaysian Family Trip to Kinabatangan & Mabul.

Click here for BORNEO 🇲🇾 2 weeks of travel. Sepilok - Kinabatangan - Sipadan - KK.

Rainforest Discovery Centre: A gem for nature lovers and birdwatchers, this center features a canopy walkway and botanical gardens within the Kabili-Sepilok Forest Reserve.

Turtle Islands Park (Pulau Selingan): An offshore sanctuary where green and hawksbill turtles lay eggs. Visitors can witness turtle hatchings in controlled, conservation-friendly environments. 

Click here for Helping BABY TURTLES on TURTLE ISLAND MALAYSIA! 🇲🇾 (Selingan Island Borneo).

For more of Sabah beyond Sandakan, please feel free to check out the following clips:

Click here for BORNEO 🇲🇾 2 Weeks in Sabah | Sepilok, Turtle Island, Kinabatangan, Mt Kinabalu.

Click here for CLIMBING MOUNT KINABALU | The Ultimate Documentary GUIDE 【 沙巴神山攻顶全纪录片】

Click here for 3 DAYS in 130 million-year-old JUNGLE IN BORNEO! (DANUM VALLEY PART 1).

Click here for MUST DO IN SABAH | Kiulu White Water Rafting.

Click here for BORNEO-Birding and Wildlife Trip by Alana and Greg Dare.

Click here for Tabin Wildlife Reserve- The best Borneo safari experience (EP8 Sabah).

2. New Suburbs and Urban Development

Sandakan has seen modern growth, with new suburbs and townships expanding its residential and commercial footprint:

Bandar Indah and Bandar Utama: Growing residential areas with malls, eateries, and modern amenities.

IJM Town: A new mixed-use township with condominiums, shop lots, and recreational areas.

Taman Tyng, Taman Sejati, and Taman Sibuga: Established neighborhoods with schools, local businesses, and places of worship.

Harbour Square and Sandakan New Township: Modern developments along the waterfront with hotels, offices, and the Sandakan Heritage Trail nearby.

3. Food and Local Produce

Sandakan is a culinary haven famous for its fusion of Chinese, Malay, and Filipino influences, reflecting the town’s multicultural roots.

Some must-try dishes and local specialties include:

Sandakan-style spring noodles (mee tuaran / mee kon lau) – Wok-fried noodles with char siu and vegetables.

Seafood – Fresh and affordable. Try butter prawns, grilled fish, or crab in black pepper sauce.

UFO Tart – A local pastry with a cookie base, soft sponge, and meringue topping. Unique to Sandakan!

Kuih Cincin and Amplang – Traditional local snacks made from rice flour and fish crackers.

Bak Kut Teh – A savory herbal pork soup that's particularly popular in Sandakan’s Chinese restaurants.

Soto Sandakan – A Sabah-style beef or chicken noodle soup with tangy and spicy flavors.

📍 Best food spots:

     Kim Fung Market (for breakfast and snacks)

     Pasar Sim-Sim (for seafood by the water)

     Waterfront Food Stalls (evening dining with sea views) 

I love the dim sum in Sandakan!

Click here for What to eat in Sandakan? - best and unique food you must eat (won't find anywhere else) (EP1 Sabah).

Click here for Sandakan Sabah : Malaysia No. 1 Food Destination. 山打根八家美食

4. Cultural and Historical Spots

St. Michael's and All Angels Church: One of the oldest stone churches in Sabah, built in 1893. A fine example of colonial architecture.

Sandakan Heritage Trail: A self-guided walking tour that links historical sites like the Agnes Keith House, the old Chinese temple, and the church.

Agnes Keith House: A restored colonial-era bungalow once home to the American author Agnes Newton Keith, known for her WWII memoirs.

Sandakan Memorial Park: Built on the site of the former POW camp, it commemorates those who perished during World Wall II. The well-maintained park, complete with a small museum and walking trails, is a solemn reminder of the horrors of war and a place of reflection for visitors from around the world.

Click here for Sandakan Heritage Trail & Memorial Park guide- Best places to visit in Sandakan (EP2 Sabah).

Click here for Their Sacrifice Is Our Solemn Heritage.

5. Travel Tip and Accommodations

📌 Travel Tips

Best time to visit: March to October (dry season)

Airport: Sandakan Airport (SDK) – 20 minutes from town

Recommended stay: 3–4 days to enjoy both town and nature trips

🏨 Top Accommodations in Sandakan (April 2025)

🌟 Luxury & Nature Retreats

1. Sabah Hotel Sandakan

• Rating: ★★★★ (8.4/10)

• Location: Km 1 Jalan Utara, Sandakan

• Highlights: Set amidst tropical rainforests, this resort offers spacious rooms, an outdoor pool, gym, and multiple dining options.

• Price: From $85 per night

• Booking: expedia​

2. Sepilok Nature Resort

• Rating: ★★★ (9.4/10)

• Location: Near Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre

• Highlights: Charming chalets surrounded by lush gardens, ideal for wildlife enthusiasts.

• Booking: expedia​

3. Sepilok Forest Edge Resort

• Rating: ★★★ (8.8/10)

• Location: Jalan Rambutan, Sepilok

• Highlights: Eco-friendly lodges with close proximity to nature attractions.

• Booking: expedia​

🏙️ Mid-Range Hotels

4. The Elopura Hotel

• Rating: ★★★ (7.7/10)

• Location: Sandakan Harbour Square

• Highlights: Strategically located with sea views, near shopping and dining options.

• Price: From $50 per night

• Booking: Booking.com​

5. Livingston Hotel

• Rating: ★★★½ (7.9/10)

• Location: Jalan Utara, Mile 4

• Highlights: Offers comfortable rooms with modern amenities and an outdoor pool.

• Price: From $50 per night

• Booking: Travelocity.com​

6. Hotel Sandakan

• Rating: ★★★

• Location: City center, near the Sulu seafront

• Highlights: Features two restaurants serving local and international cuisine, and offers free Wi-Fi.

• Booking: Booking.com​

💰 Budget-Friendly Options

7. Hotel City Star

• Rating: ★★★

• Location: Lot 3A - 4B Block 22, 4th Avenue

• Highlights: Affordable accommodation with essential amenities and free Wi-Fi.

• Price: From $17 per night

• Booking: Orbitz.com​

8. Paganakan Dii Tropical Retreat

• Rating: ★★½

• Location: Mile 14, Jalan Labuk

• Highlights: Rustic retreat offering a unique jungle experience, close to Sepilok.

• Price: From $32 per night

• Booking: Wotif.com​

9. Sepilok Jungle Resort

• Rating: ★★½

• Location: Jalan Rambutan, Mile 14 Sepilok

• Highlights: Budget-friendly resort with a pool, situated near wildlife centers.

• Price: From $53 per night

• Booking: Wotif.com  ​

Click here for Sepilok Jungle Resort review- Our true experience (with amazing hospitality) (EP3 Sabah).

---

Note: Prices are approximate and may vary based on booking dates and availability. It's advisable to check current rates and reviews on booking platforms before making a reservation.

Conclusion

Sandakan is a town where history breathes through its colonial architecture, where nature flourishes in lush rainforests and winding rivers, and where culture comes alive in its food and festivals. Though often overshadowed by Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan offers an authentic, enriching experience for travelers and a deep sense of pride for locals.

From its tragic past to its hopeful future, Sandakan continues to evolve—gracefully balancing between remembrance and rejuvenation."

If you do get to visit Sandakan (SDK), I wish you a pleasant stay in SDK and take home with you lots of happy memories.

And, if you have emigrated from SDK, the following clip will help you relived your sweet days in SDK.

Click here for Sandakan Memories.

Thank you for reading Daily Refreshing.

Fear God and Use Your Limited Time Wisely

"So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:11; NKJV)

Our days of life on Earth are numbered, but for the most part people live like their final day will never come. We esteem material success, social status and prosperity highly. As an employee, we strive to climb the corporate ladder to join the ranks of the elite and wield power to make decisions. For those who are entrepreneurs or business owners, we are busy with plans to expand our empires even in our old age (and maybe too superstitious to contemplate reckoning with our inevitable demise to come). 

We can see the parallel in Luke 12:16-21 (NASB):-

“And He (Jesus) told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began thinking to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and I will store all my grain and my goods there. And I will say to myself, “You have many goods stored up for many years to come; relax, eat, drink, and enjoy yourself!”’ But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is demanded of you; and as for all that you have prepared, who will own it now?’ Such is the one who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich in relation to God.””

The antidote is to have the fear of God. In Luke 12:4-5 (NASB), Jesus said, “Now I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed someone, has the power to throw that person into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!”

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." (Proverbs 9:10; NKJV)

When we understand the fear of God and come to terms with our limited life span on Earth, we would be on the right track to grow in wisdom. “Who knows the power of Your anger? For as the fear of You, so is Your wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:11-12; NKJV)

From the moment we were born, we are destined to die because of our fallen nature which stems from the sin of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. But, God has set in motion His Plan of Salvation for all people through Jesus who died on the cross at Calvary on Good Friday for our sins. The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through the shed blood of Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, to atone for the sin of humankind once and for all.

In John 3:16-17 (NKJV), Jesus proclaimed to us, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

As we commemorate Jesus’ death on Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter Sunday, let us be still and know that He is God. This is the one test in all of our life on Earth that we must not falter or fail in.

Avoid counterfeits and the futility of even the best of human efforts. Exercise the measure of faith given to you and place your trust in Jesus who came from heaven, died on Earth, rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and will come again in the fullness of time to judge both the living and the dead. 

In Ecclesiastes 12:1 (NKJV) we read, “Remember now your Creator in the days of your youth, before the difficult days come, and the years draw near when you say, “I have no pleasure in them”:”  As we get older, we are more settled in our ways and might feel jaded or desponded, making it harder for us to start on a quest to know God.

Truth be told, we just have to quieten ourselves and get alone to invite God into our heart, and He will work things out for our good. He is the Good Shepherd who is looking for lost sheep who call upon His name: “Jesus”.

"But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." (Romans 10:8-10; NKJV)

Let this Easter ushers in a new beginning for you with the fear of the LORD God Almighty who has created everything, including us.

Click here for Everything Has Its Time as written in Ecclesiastes 3:1-15.

Click here for The Eternity of God, and Man’s Frailty as written in Psalm 90.

Click here for The Way, the Truth, and the Life as written in John 14.

Click here for 5 Joyful Easter Devotions.

Click here for the power of The Blood of Jesus.

Click here for Kong Hee: "Mission Earth" Easter Drama 2025 and fast forward to 1:17:00 for the Parable of the Sous-Chef.

Have a Blessed Easter! Thank you for reading Daily Refreshing.

Making The Most Of Your Time

Every person has only 24 hours to spend in a day. But, how well do you spend your time? Are you wasting away your time without realising it or perhaps you are not allocating adequate time for the truly important things in life? 

Photo by Prophsee Journals on Unsplash

If something is important to you, then give it the priority and allocate the time for it. For example, you could have a Power Hour where you could do one thing for an hour, two things of 30 minutes each, four things of 15 minutes each, and in other combinations.

As in management principle of 'What gets measured gets managed', what you watch over will come under your influence and control. Watch your time and you will make the time for what is important to you as you stay vigilant with intentionality.

Start now, if not already done so, as you would not want to reach your twilight years and look back with regrets on all the things you should have, could have and ought to have done.

Get ready now for a deep dive with ChatGPT to take charge of your time and work things out notwithstanding whatever constraints and challenges you may face.

"Living with Purpose Before the Twilight Years

There is an old parable often told in leadership seminars and whispered over cups of coffee between friends contemplating life: A professor stands before his class with an empty jar. He begins by placing large rocks into it until no more can fit. “Is it full?” he asks. The students nod. Then he pours in pebbles, shaking the jar so they settle between the rocks. “Now?” Still, he pours in sand, which sifts into every crevice. Finally, he adds water—and only then is the jar truly full.

The lesson? If you don’t put the big rocks in first, you’ll never fit them in later.

But these big rocks—they’re not things. They’re moments. They’re people. They’re purpose.

And yet, how often do we find our days filled with sand—emails, errands, obligations we never meant to say yes to? Life becomes reactive instead of intentional, and suddenly the years blur like rain on glass. It’s only in the stillness of a sleepless night or the hush of twilight years that the echo rises: Where did all the time go?

The Gentle Rebellion Against Regret

To live without regret is not to live without mistake. It is to live with attention—to prioritize the eternal over the urgent. The truth is: we’re all given the same 24 hours. But how we spend them—that’s where the magic lies.

So, how do we make space for the big rocks?

It begins with clarity.

1. Name Your Big Rocks

Before anything else, you must know what matters most. Not what society says should matter. Not what the algorithm flashes before your weary eyes. What matters to you.

• Is it your children, growing fast as dreams on a summer morning?

• A lifelong passion lying dormant beneath busyness?

• Your health, your friendships, your faith, your quiet mornings?

Write them down. Say them aloud. Let them be your compass.

2. Guard Your Time Like a Garden

Time is a sacred garden, and like any garden, it needs tending. Weed out the “shoulds” and the “maybes” that choke your days. Let no one else’s emergency become your constant state. Say no—not out of rebellion, but out of reverence for your yeses.

This doesn’t mean shirking responsibility. It means showing up fully where it counts.

When you guard your mornings for stillness, you’re not being selfish—you’re anchoring your mind. When you carve out one hour to play with your child, you're not losing productivity—you’re building legacy.

3. Let the Pebbles Find Their Place

Not everything is a big rock, but that doesn’t mean it’s unworthy. Work projects, grocery runs, emails—they have their place. But when they start dictating your day, the order is upside down.

Approach your to-do list like a sculptor. Shape it. Trim it. See what can be simplified, delegated, or even—yes—left undone.

Efficiency is not the end goal; effectiveness with joy is.

4. Embrace the Sacred Pause

Stillness is where clarity is born.

In a world obsessed with hustle, choosing to pause is a quiet act of rebellion. A morning walk. A journal open to an empty page. A deep breath before the next task. These are not indulgences—they’re lifelines. They return you to yourself.

When you create room for stillness, time doesn’t just stretch—it deepens.

5. Live Life Forward, But with Reflection

As Kierkegaard once wrote, “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.” Learn from your yesterdays, but don’t get stuck there. Each sunrise offers renewal. Each hour is a fresh thread in the tapestry.

Your past may shape you, but your choices now define you.

Ask yourself, often: Am I becoming the person I want to be remembered as?

The Poetry of a Purposeful Life

A life of no regret is not one where everything went perfectly—it’s a life where priorities were honored, love was expressed, risks were taken, and presence was chosen again and again.

It’s knowing that when you reached the edge of your days, your jar was full of the things that mattered—not just the things that filled time.

So let this be your quiet affirmation:

I will not wait for permission to live fully.

I will place my big rocks in first—my dreams, my loves, my soul’s callings.

I will let the pebbles and sand settle around what truly matters.

I will not be so busy making a living that I forget to make a life.

I will live forward—with clarity, courage, and care.

Because time, that most elusive of gifts, is yours—and it begins again now." 

Yes, ChatGPT has done all the hard work of producing the following for your use:-

🌿 Reflections & Journal Prompts: Making the Most of Time

---

1. The Big Rocks: What Truly Matters

Reflection: The essential things often whisper—they don’t shout. Yet they are the foundation of a life well-lived.

Journal Prompt:

What are the five most important “big rocks” in your life right now?

Why do they matter to you—and are they reflected in how you spend your time?

---

2. Time Audit: Seeing Clearly

Reflection: We say we don’t have time, but often, we simply haven’t looked closely.

Journal Prompt:

Where is your time actually going?

Make a list of the major ways you spent your time over the last three days. What surprised you?

---

3. The Art of Saying No

Reflection: Every “yes” is also a “no” to something else.

Journal Prompt:

Where in your life are you saying yes out of obligation, fear, or guilt?

What could change if you protected your time more fiercely?

---

4. Sacred Stillness

Reflection: Stillness is not the absence of activity—it’s the presence of awareness.

Journal Prompt:

When was the last time you allowed yourself to be still without distraction?

What emotions or insights surfaced in that space?

---

5. Regrets and Redemption

Reflection: The past can be a teacher, not a prison.

Journal Prompt:

Is there a moment you regret—a lost opportunity, a missed connection, time wasted?

What can you learn from it, and how can that shape your next decision?

---

6. Time and Identity

Reflection: How we spend our time reveals who we believe we are.

Journal Prompt:

Does your current use of time align with the person you are becoming—or the person you want to be remembered as?

What one change can bring you closer?

---

7. Presence Over Perfection

Reflection: Time well spent is rarely perfect—it’s often simple, slow, and full of meaning.

Journal Prompt:

What small, imperfect moments from the past week brought you unexpected joy or connection?

How can you create more of them?

---

8. A Day You’d Be Proud Of

Reflection: We don’t find time—we make it, like artists shaping a sculpture.

Journal Prompt:

Describe your ideal day—not the vacation version, but a regular day that reflects your values, relationships, and passions.

What parts of that day can you start building into your life now?

---

9. Time as a Gift

Reflection: The greatest richness isn’t found in money—it’s found in time intentionally spent.

Journal Prompt:

If today was a gift wrapped just for you, how would you spend it differently?

What would you prioritize? Who would you call? What would you finally begin?

---

10. Living Forward

Reflection: The future begins with a single choice made today.

Journal Prompt:

What is one shift—big or small—you can make this week to honor what matters most to you?

How will you remind yourself to keep choosing what truly matters?

---

To round up, here some quotes to spur you to use your time wisely:

"Lost time is never found again." – Benjamin Franklin

"Time is what we want most, but what we use worst." – William Penn

"The key is in not spending time, but in investing it." – Stephen R. Covey

"You may delay, but time will not." – Benjamin Franklin

"Don’t count every hour in the day. Make every hour in the day count." – Unknown

"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot." – Michael Altshuler

"Time stays long enough for anyone who will use it." – Leonardo da Vinci

"Ordinary people think merely of spending time; great people think of using it." – Arthur Schopenhauer

"Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin." – Mother Teresa

"Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life." – Steve Jobs

"Time is a created thing. To say 'I don't have time' is to say 'I don't want to'." – Lao Tzu

"Better three hours too soon than a minute too late." – William Shakespeare

"You cannot kill time without injuring eternity." – Henry David Thoreau

"It’s not that we have little time, but more that we waste a good deal of it." – Seneca 

Thank you for reading Daily Refreshing.

The Eternal Dance With Time

"What Is Time?" 

For examples, is it true that time is not always chronological? Why is it that sometimes time seems to slow down and at times it seems to go faster -- is it scientific or psychological? 

Photo by Murray Campbell on Unsplash

For your refreshing, the following ChatGPT-generated article will take you on a swirling ride with time. Buckle in.

"Time. That invisible river we are all swept into the moment we take our first breath. We measure it with ticking clocks, celebrate it with birthdays, mourn it when it’s lost, and chase it when it runs ahead. Yet, for something so essential—so interwoven with our very being—time remains a mystery cloaked in both poetry and physics.

A Love Affair with Time

Humankind has always had a romance with time. We’ve written sonnets about it, invented calendars to tame it, and shaped civilizations around the rhythm of its pulse. In ancient days, time was the movement of the sun, the moon, and the stars—a celestial choreography that painted the sky with moments.

The Babylonians watched the heavens and gave us the 60-second minute and the 60-minute hour. The Egyptians, with their sundials, let shadows whisper the hour. The Mayans carved it in stone with cyclical calendars, seeing time as a loop rather than a line. Even today, the Gregorian calendar and the atomic clock are just human attempts to hold the infinite in our hands.

But what is time, really?

The Evolution of Time

To the ancient mind, time was divine—an ever-turning wheel or an endless spiral. But with the Age of Enlightenment and the birth of physics, we began to dissect time. Newton saw it as absolute—ticking away in the background of the universe, like a cosmic metronome.

Then came Einstein. And with a stroke of genius, he bent time.

According to his theory of relativity, time is not a constant. It stretches and shrinks depending on speed and gravity. The faster you move, the slower time flows for you. Near a black hole, where gravity is immense, time nearly stops. Suddenly, time was not the ruler but the ruled. It could be warped. It could be relative.

This idea wasn’t just theoretical. Astronauts on the International Space Station age slightly slower than we do on Earth. GPS satellites must adjust for time dilation to keep your Google Maps from leading you astray. Time, once thought immovable, dances to the tune of physics.

Chronos vs. Kairos: The Many Faces of Time

Most of us think of time chronologically—like a train on a track, with yesterday behind us and tomorrow up ahead. That’s Chronos, the ancient Greek god of linear time. It’s the kind of time that governs calendars, deadlines, and commutes.

But there’s another kind of time: Kairos—the opportune moment. It’s the pause in conversation when everything shifts. It’s the feeling of standing under a sunset and losing all sense of clocks. Kairos doesn’t care for precision; it cares for meaning. And that brings us to something even more intimate: the psychology of time.

Why Time Feels Fast or Slow

Have you ever noticed how time drags during a dull meeting but flies during a vacation? How childhood summers stretched endlessly, yet now the years seem to slip through your fingers?

This isn’t just poetic nostalgia—it’s science and psychology at play.

When we’re young, everything is new. Our brains are soaking in fresh experiences, forming new memories constantly. The denser the memory network, the longer time feels. As we age and routines settle in, fewer new memories are made, and time feels like it speeds up. Novelty expands our perception of time; familiarity compresses it.

Emotion plays a role too. Fear, anxiety, excitement—they all alter our internal clocks. In high-stress moments, like a car crash, the brain speeds up, creating the illusion that time has slowed down. In flow states—when you’re fully immersed in something joyful—hours can pass like seconds.

So, is time a strict, chronological force? Not always. Sometimes, it’s a river. Sometimes, it’s a sea. And other times, it’s a mirror, showing us who we are and what we hold dear.

Harnessing Time

Despite its elusive nature, we’ve become master timekeepers. We've built civilizations on the back of time—agriculture follows the seasons, schools divide the year into semesters, economies run on fiscal quarters, and technology depends on nanosecond precision.

Yet, perhaps our greatest achievement is not in measuring time but in learning how to live meaningfully within it. To know when to act, when to wait, when to remember, and when to dream.

In the End

Time is more than ticks on a clock or wrinkles on a face. It is memory. It is momentum. It is mystery.

We cannot hold it, but we can dance with it. We can shape it, stretch it, and savor it. And maybe, just maybe, in romancing time, we find what it means to truly be alive."

There is more from ChatGPT but, in the interest of time, here are just two poems to energise your grey cells on the subject of time:

"Sonnet to Time

O Time, thou silent keeper of the stars,
Who weaves the dawn with threads of golden hue,
Thy touch can heal, yet leave the deepest scars,
A fleeting ghost, yet ever near and true.

Thou dost not pause for love nor plead for kings,
Thy rivers flow through joy and sorrow's shore,
Thou steal'st our youth on feather-softest wings,
Yet giftest wisdom as thy subtle lore.

In newborn cries and twilight's final breath,
Thy voice resounds—a song both sweet and wise.
Thou teach'st us life is not afraid of death,
But rich with fire that fades in velvet skies.

So let us dance, dear Time, in step, not race—
And meet thy passage with a lover's grace."

"The Timekeeper’s Waltz

Time doesn’t knock.

It tiptoes in—
soft as baby breath,
warm as milk on a sleepy chin.

In babyhood,
time is measured
in giggles,
in first steps,
in the triumphant shout of “mine!”
It is endless days of peekaboo
and magic hands that disappear behind tiny eyes
and return as if conjured by sorcery.

Childhood is next—
where time explodes
in sidewalk chalk and scraped knees,
and summers feel like they might last forever.
There are bugs in jars,
pajamas at noon,
and the cosmic mystery of why
adults never want to play just one more game.

Time tumbles into teenage,
where it slams the door
and plays music loud enough
to echo into space.
It flirts, it rebels,
it dreams in all-caps and midnight stars.
Time here is a mirror,
and sometimes you’re not quite sure
if you like the person looking back—
but oh, how brightly they shine
when they laugh.

In your twenties,
time is a blur of ramen noodles,
accidental wisdom,
and deciding between rent
and a plane ticket to somewhere reckless.
You make mistakes
and call them experience.
You collect first loves and
learn to let some of them go.

Your thirties arrive in comfortable shoes.
Time now has a calendar.
It’s booked and color-coded.
You fall in love again—
this time maybe for real—
and time becomes
a messy kitchen with little feet
and sleepy cheeks pressed
against yours at midnight.
You Google things like “how to do taxes”
and “how to keep a houseplant alive.”

Forty comes without fanfare.
Time here is the friend
who speaks the truth gently.
You realize the mirror is less enemy,
more storyteller.
Laughter lines become memories
you wear like medals.
You start saying “no”
not out of defiance—
but out of clarity.

Fifty brings freedom.
Time stretches again,
like it did in childhood.
You rediscover books,
long walks,
and the rare joy
of not needing to explain yourself.

Sixty, seventy—
you forget where you put your keys
but remember where you left your joy.
Time is slower now,
and sweeter.
Mornings are poetry.
Afternoons, naps.
Evenings, stories you’ve told a hundred times
that still make your grandchildren laugh.

And elderhood—
ah, elderhood—
Time no longer ticks.
It hums.
You sit beneath the same tree
you once climbed,
and know that the leaves falling now
are not endings—
they are applause.

You laugh for no reason
other than remembering
the best moments in life
are the ones you didn’t plan.

And when Time finally nods to you,
as an old friend does,
you’ll smile, stand,
and take its hand.

Because you've danced every step
of the Timekeeper’s Waltz."

Thank you for reading Daily Refreshing.