[banja]

I was thinking today...Was going through some old pictures, which brought up memories and I realized that I have a negative view of the past. I rarely, if ever, get sentimental about "the good old days", and I mostly don't even like to look at the past. I learn, I move on, and that's it...I don't go back.
The past, to me, is rather a dark thing, and I always kinda think that today is much better. Even if today I get run over by a truck, I still think today is better than yesterday.
Do you experience this?

It's also one of the reasons why I like to move, and never look back. I like to start things over, I like to throw out things...stuff like that.

[Kishi]

Even if today I get run over by a truck, I still think today is better than yesterday.

Hmm... I don't quite understand where you are coming from with that.

I do not think that there is anything wrong with reminiscing about the past, whether it be bad or good memories. That is part of what memories are for. I think that the only time it becomes a problem is if you dwell in the past and don't learn how to move on. I mean really move on, not run from the past, because there is a huge difference.

To me... it almost sounds like you are running from your past. Could that be true?

[thewindlistens]

I tend to be one of those pople that talk a lot about 'the good old days'. And I'm still quite young.

[BehindSmile]

I went through a lot about a year ago, dealing with a job, and to this day sometimes I still cry about it. It was an incredibly difficult time for me that haunts me, especially since I know I wasn't in the wrong...its why I want to pursue Human Resources.

Most of the time though, when I look into my past I look at it in a positive light. I try to at least, but it almost feels as if I was always going through something. I'm hoping that'll change. But I know what you mean. About a year ago I just wanted to move completely out of state, by myself, and start an entire new life for myself. I looked on craigslist for people who were looking for a roommate...just for an idea. It was so very tempting.

[banja]

Hmm... I don't quite understand where you are coming from with that.

I do not think that there is anything wrong with reminiscing about the past, whether it be bad or good memories. That is part of what memories are for. I think that the only time it becomes a problem is if you dwell in the past and don't learn how to move on. I mean really move on, not run from the past, because there is a huge difference.

To me... it almost sounds like you are running from your past. Could that be true?

Sometimes I run, yes...but I can't run forever, usually I just run into a brick wall, which forces me to deal with some things that I'd rather not deal with.
Mostly though, I don't run...It's simply that when I decide to move on, I move on 100%, and don't see the point in even thinking about the past. It's just this darkish gray clouded thing that I don't feel any ties to. I guess some people feel ties to the past...I don't. I guess I also purposefully cut them, by moving somewhere else, throwing out the old things, etc. I know the past is there, but I just leave it be. That doesn't mean that I hate or have resentment towards people from my past...I honestly just have warm feelings for them...it's rather that when in my brain a time period qualifies as "the past", I lock it away in some kind of far far brain cabinet.
Dunno how else to explain this.

[banja]

I tend to be one of those pople that talk a lot about 'the good old days'. And I'm still quite young.

Hmm...do you think, in a more global sense, that the past was better or today is better? I mean, would you rather live, for example in the Roman Empire times, or today....or in the future?

[BehindSmile]

Hmm...do you think, in a more global sense, that the past was better or today is better? I mean, would you rather live, for example in the Roman Empire times, or today....or in the future?

I don't know, but I watch the show "Life on Mars" and I'd love to live in the 70s. It just seems so carefree, and there wasn't all this corporate busyness going on all the time. Things seemed more relaxed and mellow, women could be housewives, and families didn't need two incomes.

I'm old fashioned...I want to be a housewife...take care of everything for my love and children. I love my boyfriend so much and doing stuff for him gives me incredibly satisfaction. Feminists don't like me...

[banja]

I went through a lot about a year ago, dealing with a job, and to this day sometimes I still cry about it. It was an incredibly difficult time for me that haunts me, especially since I know I wasn't in the wrong...its why I want to pursue Human Resources.

Most of the time though, when I look into my past I look at it in a positive light. I try to at least, but it almost feels as if I was always going through something. I'm hoping that'll change. But I know what you mean. About a year ago I just wanted to move completely out of state, by myself, and start an entire new life for myself. I looked on craigslist for people who were looking for a roommate...just for an idea. It was so very tempting.

Sorry you had tough times...
Yes...the last time I moved was about a year ago actually. From the West coast to the East coast of US.
Do you think you associate your surroundings with your feelings/experiences ? I think that's why I can't live in the same place, because I associate the smells, tastes, sounds, sights, etc. with my experiences, and soak it all in pretty deeply. I have a weird question...do you sometimes get sick from something that reminds you of something from the past? For example, a smoothie with...I dunno, your meerkats death...so when you smell/drink that smoothie, you get sick?

[Kishi]

I think I understand a bit better now, thanks.

As for your question, I think all people associate things like that, though I can't think of anything that has made me sick. Homesick, yes, but never ill. Seems to happen every time I bake cookies.
Of all of your senses, smell is the most closely tied to memory.

As for the roman empire... I like my indoor plumbing and running water... and internet. I don't think the good old days really were.... and I think the future is what we make of it.

[ClubbedWithSpades]

Hmm...do you think, in a more global sense, that the past was better or today is better? I mean, would you rather live, for example in the Roman Empire times, or today....or in the future?

I think about things like this a lot. Not dwelling on the idea of living in a different era, just... it would feel more appropriate for me, to live in a different time [like, coincidentally, the Roman Empire]. But that's a whole different ballgame.


As far as looking back on the past goes, I try to turn everything into a positive learning experience, so if I'm successful in that, even remembering bad times doesn't bother me so much, because I can look at how I've improved my life as a result.

But if thinking about something really does bother me, which is rare, I just kind of get physically upset for a while, then blank out... and when I snap back into lucidity, I don't remember it again for a long time. =]