Embracing the Past, Living the Present: A Journey Through Time and Memory

 Many of us look back on our past with a fondness that paints it as a simpler, freer, and more carefree time—perhaps less affluent, but richer in other, more meaningful ways. 

In our minds, returning to those days evokes memories of our youth, when the future seemed boundless and life was approached with greater ease, less anxiety, and more trust in what lay ahead. For those of us who lived through the '70s, '80s, and '90s, the world we remember was shaped by the society of 50, 40, or 30 years ago, a time that feels markedly different from today.

So, what has changed?

Our daily habits have grown less inclusive and more individualistic. Our outlook on the future is now shadowed by the stark reality of climate change, a concern that looms over many of us. The safety of our children and grandchildren, and even our own, is now something we must consider constantly, as social media and globalisation bring the world's dangers to our doorsteps in real-time, making life feel more immediate and, perhaps, more perilous.

Technology has woven itself into the very fabric of our lives, transforming the way we live and think. But when we pause to reflect, we realise that every generation views its past with a sense of nostalgia much like ours. 

We often think of the "good old days" as the best days there ever were. Perhaps this is because we no longer carry the weight of expectations. After all, we plan less for the future—or hardly at all. We may believe that what we have achieved in the past can never be repeated, and so we close ourselves off, shutting the door on what is yet to come.

Fortunately, I do not count myself among those who think this way. I still have dreams and projects, whether they are big or small matters little. I embrace the technology that is part of my daily life and I continue to live with curiosity. 

Curiosity, after all, is what keeps us truly alive. I believe that is often what’s missing—the drive to discover new things and the willingness to try them. Yet, there is one treasure that no one can take from us: our life experience, which guides and supports us every day. This is a value that belongs to us alone.

So, let us hold it dear, and use the time we have left—be it long or very long!—to savour all that life still has to offer, taking full advantage of the progress that has been made. Let us do this without becoming lost in the past.

I count myself among those who believe in this.