Living In The Past

 Living In The Past

I look back on my past that had many ups and downs. When I speak to my friends, I always focus the conversation on the ups in my past not the downs. It's so great to laugh with my old friends about the fun and sometimes outrages times we had. It's cathartic to remember the good times. It's depressing to focus on the bad times. 

The brain has evolved to make sure we protect ourselves. Primates are always on guard to protect themselves. Therefore, our brain has been wired with negative thinking. When meeting a new person, we are cautious. When a situation comes up, our brain thinks what bad can happen to me. By design, we are not risk takers. 

I think it's nuts for a person to ride a motorcycle, do things they don't have to do, but do so because they get a thrill or do things that has a good chance to put them in a hospital. However, I enjoy watching these crazy people.

I envy risk takers. People who are willing to risk it all to do something they feel they have to do or want to do, are my heroes. I've taken my share of risks in my life, but all of them were calculated. Throwing security to the wind has never been my kind of living. On the other hand, a line I wrote in my book "Never Buy A Hat If Your Feet Are Cold" was "You always want to make more right decision (risk) than wrong decision, but, no decision is the wrong decision."

For most of us it easier to be in the "known" past instead of an uncertain future. The problem with past thinkers is that the future is going to happen like it or not. The future requires us to make decisions and/or take risks. The future requires us to learn new things. Those who refuse to adjust are always left behind. "Life without some risk is half a life - Kenny Felderstein "Never Buy A Hat If Your Feet Are Cold."

Sooo, look forward to the uncertain future and remember the good times of the past just:

Don't Live In The Past