Linger for the Future

“Look not mournfully into the past. It comes not back again. Wisely improve the present. It is thine. Go forth to meet the shadowy future, without fear.” This is a saying Longfellow read in Germany where his wife died. The words gave him hope for the future, because dwelling in the past can dangerously affect your future, cause insanity, and spawn depression.

Human beings during their lives will experience vast amounts of good and bad memories Longfellow’s states that if past memories cause reoccurring negative thoughts one should “Wisely improve the present.” Improving the present will shift your mind toward other issues instead of past memories. Living in the past will never improve past moments, or aid your life. Supporting Longfellow, by improving the present will make way for new better memories, potentially finding a better substitute than the previous, a substitute with positive benefits, thus improving overall life.

Improving ones life will drastically change one life for the better, but if one doesn’t and decides to live in their past memories, example like a past memory of having an argument with a spouse or best friend, or the passing away of them will drive one into complete insanity. Focusing on the past will create a fundamental conflict between ones values and the reality around them. Dedicating ones life on the past will drive them mad with obsession and dependency on the past feeling like a drug. Thus when one starts such a “drug” then is hard to quit because we as human being want to relive the moment to change