Many people view life in a “rear-view mirror” way.
I’m no exception to that rule.
The focus on what was and then what should have been, in our minds at least, is too pervasive to not engage in. People get degrees in studying such events, and often get paid to speculate, or write about them.
Everyone thinks about their prior life experiences at some point, and that isn’t a bad thing.
The quote “those who can not remember the past are condemned to repeat it” rings true on micro and macro levels.
Like anything, life is about balance. Spend too much time in rear-view mirror, and you’ll hit something ahead of you. Only look ahead, and you’ll miss the emergency vehicle approaching.
I don’t have an answer to whats the right ratio of nostalgia to living in the moment. And if I did, It would vary person to person. Hence, I don’t even bother.
With global tensions and domestic economic issues brewing, I’ve had my past thrust upon me.
Trust me when I say it isn’t bad. Or all bad, at least.
I was a child around the 2008 housing bubble and the related sub-prime mortgage crisis. In this instance, I define “child” as the inability to realize what was unfolding as I grew-up.
I remember hearing about my father losing his job. I remember my mother taking a second job at a craft store around Christmas. I missed my mother not being around as much, but had no clue why she needed to work a second job.
After all, her first job was in IT…and my little brain knew that was big money.
But that was the extent of my dis-comfort. I never went without meals, or heat, or even a roof over my head. Whatever sacrifices my parents made then to keep us kids comfortable, I’ll never know.
I understand that I was definitely lucky to have that experience. Many didn’t, and even today, don’t.
The combination of those two facts created quite a bit of guilt for me recently. Thoughts of “what if my parents didn’t have three kids to raise?” and “what could I have done to help others then” ran rampant.
Quite unrealistic thoughts to have, especially looking back on the age I was then. Those thoughts have no useful effect on what happened then, unless it spurs me to create a time machine.
In which case that’s a different story.
But for me, those thoughts of “what could i have done then” drive what I do now.
They drive every interaction I have with society. I use them to steer my values. To see that not everyone lives in the world I do.
It gives me empathy.
Its true that I as an individual, can not stop an economic crash regardless of my efforts.
But I can be kind and help where I can.
I have a long held belief in giving. If I have a five dollar bill on me, I would spare it with anyone who asked. Regardless of if it was a homeless person, or the richest man in the world.
My thoughts are if i fear they’ll spend it on something i would deem uncouth, and then don’t give it, I’ve failed as a person.
Who am I to be the judge on that.
If I can spare five dollars to bring comfort to an individual in need, then I’ll do it without hesitation.
Because if they lied to me, shame on them. But if I ignored another human in need? Shame on me.
Thank you,
-TME