Nostalgic or forward-looking?

[Nik]

Just as there are introverts, extroverts, perverts (?) -:), there are people dwelling on and reliving the past and how wonderful everything was ____ years ago, some others living the present to the fullest and those dreaming of the future, busy with plans and ideas. Nothing bad with any of the above, it's just how people are.
Where do you find yourself roaming mentally: in that unforgettable summer of 19___, an important lunch/meeting this afternoon or in two years time from now when hopefully you'd be able to leave job for writing/move to a bigger house/buy a yacht/jet or embark on around the world cruise?

[Mehreen]

I don't know maybe get another book published which is under consideration at the moment with Scribe Publishers.

[[deleted user]]

In terms of the Human civilization and our long-suffering planet, I am forward-looking. However, when it comes to people themselves, I tend to regret the qualities of the past that too often seem to have disappeared or became weaker with the latest generation. Today's generation strikes me as very much 'me, me, me!' and also as having less sense of the common good.

[Bob]

I am always suspicious of overgeneralizations. I know many young people who are involved, passionate and caring for others.
On the other hand, in terms of human civilization and our long-suffering planet, I am in despair.
Michael, maybe you and I should put our opinions in a blender!
As for the topic, I do my best to live in the present. One of my inspirations is my wife. When people complain of old age, she says, "I think it's a privilege to have got to be this old!"
On the personal level, if I could get a body transplant (get rid of the permanent effects of multiple injuries), I'd much rather be me, now, than at any time in the past. On the large scale, I see wide-ranging evidence that things are getting much, much worse.
:)
Bob

[Daniel J.]

Nik wrote: "introverts, extroverts, perverts "

LOL

I agree with Michel (post 4). I try to be forward thinking when it comes to aspects of the "greater than myself" world. However, I quite often find myself thinking nostalgically, but science has proven that the notion of the nostalgic is mostly a lie, and that things were not necessarily how you remember them.

Regardless, being nostalgic can be fun, and I think indulging in it every once in awhile can be good for you.

[P.J.]

Just came across this thread.

This (below) was me talking about mourning the loss of my childhood. I snapped out of it when I began taking the writing and publishing seriously. So I think if we don't have something to look forward to, and are missing something to fully engage us in the present, and had something of which we were particularly fond in the past, we look back.

For three or four years, I had gotten caught up in the thrill of replacing toys lost from my childhood. They weren’t literally “lost” – my parents had given them away without my knowledge or consent.
My son had introduced me to eBay in its early days, and I’d gotten hooked. Normally not much of a shopper, I had found a window to the past, from which I was trying to recreate what little I could of the brighter aspects of my childhood. I couldn’t bring back the time I treasured with Grandma, or the wonderful holiday dinners our family enjoyed at her house. I couldn’t bring back the creative and carefree days playing in the creek and eating peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with childhood playmates. I couldn’t relive the twilight evenings held in Daddy’s arms at my bedroom window, as we listened to the distant trains, and looked out at the Robins singing, “Goodnight, sleep tight!” in the yard. There was no-one, now, to read me a story at bedtime, or to rub my back when they tucked me in. I couldn’t restore the sunny innocence with which I had viewed life as a young child. But I could find copies of my favorite childhood toys and books. And money could bring them back into my life, while nothing was able to return the happy days with Grandma, the holiday dinners, and the naïve belief held by a babe in arms that I was unconditionally loved by my parents.

[Nik]

And what about you?

[Scout]

I'm very Zen and focus only on the present moment. NOT :-) I did read something once about being able to observe your own thoughts, and I found it to be true.

[Alicia]

I'm 14 and moved to Gibraltar from India around 2 years ago. My parents are usually busy with work and I find myself nostalgic almost always. My bestie since the day I was born, has moved to Canada from india and I don't know when I will get to see her. I miss my friends and can't forget about those days which is preventing me from socializing here. Everyone is changing and I just find it hard to accept that.

[Nik]

Hi Alicia and welcome here!
Relocating as a teenager is not easy. Speaking from personal experience here. However, all the communication techs availing excellent free opportunities to be in visual and audio contact with anyone in virtually any place on earth can alleviate a little the nostalgia..
Anyways, hope you'll enjoy it here and participate

[Nik]

Denise wrote: "I dream about our own home, and in the far future, ponder where we will live when my husband retires. ..."

Hope your dreams come true and soon!