avatarjack friks

Summary

The article reflects on the idea that the present moments may be the "good old days" we will look back on, emphasizing the importance of appreciating and fully experiencing the current period of life, despite its challenges.

Abstract

The article "What if Right Now is The ‘Good Old Days’?" invites readers to consider the present as a cherished period that will one day be nostalgically remembered. It acknowledges the impossibility of revisiting the past and suggests that the struggles, dreams, and pure intentions of today are what shape our future selves. The text encourages embracing the uncertainty and rawness of the present, suggesting that these experiences are what we will come to miss and define as the "good old days." It proposes that by recognizing the value of today's moments, we can appreciate the journey towards our dreams and the myriad of emotions and experiences that come with it.

Opinions

  • The author posits that the present, with all its difficulties and pure intentions, is as significant as the idealized past we often yearn for.
  • There is an emphasis on the importance of appreciating the current day, as it is the foundation upon which future successes and personal growth are built.
  • The article suggests that the future's enjoyment is rooted in the experiences of the present, which will be remembered as the "good old days."
  • It is implied that documenting and savoring the present can lead to a greater appreciation and excitement for life's journey.
  • The author hints at a concern that the value of the present may be overlooked, with people wishing to escape current struggles rather than embracing them as formative experiences.

What if Right Now is The ‘Good Old Days’?

Photo by NEOM on Unsplash

Pause. Okay now resume…

Pause again. Okay now rewind…

Oh nope, that didn’t work now, did it? We can’t go back.

We can pause for a moment to catch our breath, but we cannot go back. Not to our first moments of life, nor to ‘the good old days’.

“I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days before you actually left them.” — Andy Bernard in The Office

What if today was the good old days? The days you are living right now, the ones where all you know is struggle, maybe you’re broke, maybe you’re deadbeat and tired. What if when you look back you realized that these days were the days that really counted, the ones where your heart was pure of the dream, and the work. What if today was the good old days, how could you capture it? How could you enjoy it fully?

You can appreciate it. The day. The work. The lack of knowing if all of this will workout. The dreams inflated with a pure filtration of hope. You can appreciate all aspects of the good old days while you are in them simply by taking some time to catch your breath, zooming out for a moment, and realizing where you are right now. Realize that today is the day that makes you who you are years from now: today is the day that makes you able to accomplish your dreams, and along with the day is all the things it contains (hardship, the work, the treachery, love, bullsh*t, some more bullsh*t, grace, etc.).

Imagine

If I told you where you are right now, with absolute certainty, is your “good old days” and you believed me, you sensed I knew: future you told me. What would you do? How would you act differently? How would you think about each thing you did? Would you savor these moments? Would you document how you feel? Would you develop more excitement, Or would you worry about these days slipping by all too quickly?

The future version of you enjoys their life now only because you have went through these days, the days you will come to miss later but now are only wishing to escape. The days that made you who you are. The good old days…

Life
Self Improvement
Self-awareness
Life Lessons
Personal Development
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