"Looking back, a person risks losing hold of the present while being confounded by the past."
I find this quote to be absolutely true. The main example of this that relates to me is in sports. Although his example of learning academics from a different culture is much more difficult and important they are still related. In baseball specifically I remember my dad and coaches I've had always told me not to focus on my last at bat whether it was good or bad. This was more effective advice after I had struck out because especially as a kid you get very upset after failure. Since I was so focused on striking out earlier it would effect me on my next at bat and cause me to be upset and get out again. Or vice-versa if you have a great moment don't focus on it, create another. You have to realize that focusing on the past won't do anything to change it. This also applies on a much bigger scale and some events you can't get past because you are still focused on them. Sometimes you can blame the past or be so focused on it that it effects your present and that's the worst thing that can happen. Whether its a relationship, sports, or academics focusing on the past risks losing hold on the present. Another example is if you sit around in your house and think about all the great times you had with your friends, that means you are not taking advantage of today. Although remembering good times can be fun, if you just reminisce past highs or lows you will not create new memories to remember.
I couldn't agree more with you. I am a strong believer of living in the moment and not dreading the past. What has happened, has happened and it's time to move on. I think too many people get caught up in thinking about their past whether it good or bad, that they forget to embrace the moment that they're in now. I have even done so myself, I was in a bad relationship and for a while I let it control how I felt even after it was over, but then I realized that nothing was going to change what had already happened. Once I realized that, life seemed to be a lot more enjoyable.
ReplyDeleteI, too, strongly identify with this. I come from a history of stage performance, playing with different bands and such, and this is something I used to struggle with. If I ever played a bad chord on guitar, or messed up the words of what I was singing, my face would turn read, and I would get detracted. It turned into a viscous cycle of messing up, focusing on what I had done, and messed up again, because I was not thinking ahead. Eventually I learned that it was nothing but a stupid habit, that the rest of my performance did not have to be effected by what I had just played. I will not pretend to be a flawless musician, but not, when I hit a bad chord, I actually find myself laughing though the rest of the song. Life is way too great to beat yourself over a sour note, so laugh through the lyrics. <--- That is my attempt at the inside of a Hallmark card.
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