We all do it.  We see events or actions happening today and start to reflect or have even heard or said, "In my day,  or When I was a kid." This usually is followed by the current generation's immediate eye roll, and we then start to head in a sort of downward spiral comparing how we use to enjoy certain things but then forget, that was the past, not the present.

Living in the past or too much reflecting on what has already is not healthy.  It already happened. Spirit is often heard saying, "That is why it is called the past. It has happened and is only what has brought you to where you are today." When we think too much, compare or try to convince ourselves that things should be done differently because of how simple they were before, we have to remember that before is what has made today.  Your very actions are currently sculpting the form the future takes. You are currently in an active state of creation and you don't even know it.  When we reflect, we stop. We start to hold back and give too much energy to things that have already happened and do not pause to take into consideration what can be.  We see people recreating certain events, bits of nostalgia or even regressing into bigotry and fear because they felt the past was so much better. But was it?

I grew up in Bay City, Michigan during the '60s, '70s, and early '80s. When I was in the 6th grade, it was the first time we were getting a taste of what high school was like by going to a few classes but spending half the day in our homeroom. These classes included the Arts, Skills, and English.  My English teacher, Ms. Miller was a bit of a stern person and always seemed a bit frazzled over something or the other.  On one of her special, frazzled days, as we waited for her to enter the classroom, a group of kids where rather noisy. Laughing and just talking rather loudly.  When Ms. Miller entered the room, she went off. "You kids just have no idea about the world. A bomb could drop at any time and you all just don't know how bad the world is!"  The class stopped and dead silence filled the room. I could hear my heart beat She then just sat down and instructed us to turn to our books, but all I could think about was that there are bombs overhead ready to drop on us at any time.  This one event sticks with me today as even remembering it, I can still see her face and the reactions that would follow.  I can remember a lot of what was before but the more that I think about certain actions and reactions that occurred back then, I can only think about how much of it wasn't all that great.

Of course, some of you had a great childhood even a great early adulthood, and hopefully what I would want for you, is a current great one. But as we know, especially now, the world to a degree doesn't feel all that great. Why? Because of all that we have done as a whole.  But there are great times to reflect upon, but still, those times have passed. Be grateful for them bringing you to this point today, but remember, you can't keep comparing the past and what has happened in the past to events today.

I have said this before. "Change is good for us." We need change. We need growth. We need to constantly evolve to not only help ourselves but also the world around us. A lot of people dislike or have a fear of technology.  If you are reading this or have attended any of the online circles, congratulations! You overcame a part of that area in your life you thought you couldn't and found difficult to do so but you, just as I choose to, overcame some unfounded fear and moved forward.  But there will be those who will say such things as, "I'm too old to learn something new. I just don't understand," and this becomes the mantra or self-manifestation they create.  

We need to grow, plain and simple. Rooting our thoughts and actions to events that have already happened will not allow us to do so.  If you were alone on the planet, you could create whatever you want and live in the past exactly however you want, but the movements of today just don't look upon the actions of the past as being all that great.

If you ever saw or watched All in the Family, I am reminded of the words that were sung at the time, as a kid and family, we enjoyed. We laughed and thought how silly and were there for all of it, not realizing, just actually how it truly epitomized the typical family that America wanted and choose easily to be back then.  Norman Lear, the creator, and writer behind the show stated that he wanted to demonstrate what was right and wrong with America back then. Little did he know that it was going to be a demonstration of exactly what the past can do to the present.

Here are the lyrics which include the long version of the song.

Boy, the way Glenn Miller played. Songs that made the Hit Parade. Guys like us, we had it made. Those were the days.

And you knew who you were then. Girls were girls, and men were men. Mister, we could use a man Like Herbert Hoover again.

Didn't need no welfare state. Everybody pulled his weight. Gee, our old LaSalle ran great. Those were the days

{In the longer version}

People seemed to be content. Fifty dollars paid the rent. Freaks were in a circus tent. Those were the days.

Take a little Sunday spin. Go to watch the Dodgers win. Have yourself a dandy day. That cost you under a fin.

Hair was short, and skirts were long. Kate Smith really sold a song. I don't know just what went wrong. Those were the days

Now would I watch that show today, no. But you see this is an example of what so many still have as an idea of what the past looks like or a version of it. 

I just want you to be aware that growth and moving forward from today, is probably more healthy for you than living too much in the past. We are seeing too much of the past making a comeback and not for the better. I am reminded every time I see this behavior of the words, by George Santayana, an American philosopher. The exact quote is “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” Meaning if we do not remember what the past was like and what happened, we will learn that the lessons of the past may have consequences if we do nothing to do better than the past.  

I always choose to try to do better or at least be better than I was yesterday. I am guilty, because I am human, of living in the past and thinking of certain events that were good and some not so good, but I then remember as spirit has said, "It is called the past for a reason." and work all the much more so what a gift living in the present, really is and I hope for you the same.

Have a great March,

Steven