The "Good Old Days" Paradox...

[WillBrink]

I spend very little time in retrospective mode, and it's usually a few drinks in with my best friends of 50 years. We laugh at the good things and bad things in the past, but lately there's not much lightheartedness when contemplating the future. We just enjoy the now and hope for the best.

That is all we really can do. The amount of time wasted on past regrets, etc, and or worrying about the future (my specialty...) that does not exist, and may not exist, thus not enjoying the only we actually (now) is tragic.

[B52U]

Who else here thinks it would be cool to hang out with Mr. Aug just to BS about various topics?

Kinda reminds me of my time in the military where there was plenty of time to pontificate on random thoughts and subjects with the crew.

Plenty of inane prattle sessions to pass the time. Life was simple and entertaining.

[MegademiC]

Do yourself a favor and turn off the TV, grab your fishing pole and spend some time outdoors. Life is great here in America.
Politicians, actors, news, can kiss my ass I don’t need their bullshit in my life.

Yeah, i dont care anymore... if anything Im thankfull for our times. Ill live my life, have some kids and raise them without public schools and crap on TV. I'm gonna do what I want.

[SteyrAUG]

I think this is a problem for the here and now. I know for me, we were at peak times in the early 2000's, like before the great primer drought of 2005-2006. Yes we had 9/11 and some serious international drama, but from summer 1999 to mid 2008, everything was honestly pretty green and free.

If you look at the numbers, now should be better. It's just not even remotely better and I think the difference is qualitative, not quantitative. So even if I have "more", I feel less secure in numerous senses of the word. It's probably as easy now to be successful as any other time in American history. I just don't think that equates to being more fulfilled or at peace.

That is why I used the word "seemed" on purpose. Obviously any ideas about events before we lived is mostly perception.

[SteyrAUG]

I have never done that myself and always look forward and attempt to live in the now, because that is really the only thing we actually have. If you're living on the past, you're simply not living. I have both good memories of "back in the day" and plenty of not so good memories. While I do enjoy thinking about the crazy times of things past to be sure, I would not time jump back any of them even if I could. As always, it's simply the human mind to focus on and remember the good stuff for X time, and ignore a lot of things that really sucked or didn't exist, etc.

I'm not talking about shutting yourself in the house and watching old films of when you were a star. But more like driving past something like Pizza Hut and WISHING it still tasted like Pizza Hut because wouldn't that be nice. As with everything, somethings are better and some things are worse. I think it's human nature to wish we still had all the better stuff that is now gone.

Really don't have much choice in the matter about living in the present, I have a lot of stuff to do.

[SteyrAUG]

That is all we really can do. The amount of time wasted on past regrets, etc, and or worrying about the future (my specialty...) that does not exist, and may not exist, thus not enjoying the only we actually (now) is tragic.

Depends. To me it's making sure I learn from the past and carefully consider the future. When I'm doing those things, I actually am living in the now. The only thing I wish I did more was spend more time "enjoying right now" rather than spend that time preparing for a future when I can presumably at some point "enjoy that right now." But it has to be a balance so you are actually prepared for whatever comes.

[Slater]

From the ending narration to the old "Twilight Zone" episode "Walking Distance":

"Martin Sloan, age thirty-six, vice-president in charge of media. Successful in most things but not in the one effort that all men try at some time in their lives—trying to go home again. And also like all men, perhaps there'll be an occasion, maybe a summer night sometime, when he'll look up from what he's doing and listen to the distant music of a calliope, and hear the voices and the laughter of the people and the places of his past. And perhaps across his mind there'll flit a little errant wish, that a man might not have to become old, never outgrow the parks and the merry-go-rounds of his youth. And he'll smile then too, because he'll know it is just an errant wish, some wisp of memory not too important really, some laughing ghosts that cross a man's mind, that are a part of the Twilight Zone."

Heck, like many others I'm quite nostalgic for the days of my youth (1960's and 70's) and you do tend to remember the good things rather than the unpleasant memories. But if I had to go to the dentist or the doctor, I'd much rather go in 2022 than 1972.

[SteyrAUG]

From the ending narration to the old "Twilight Zone" episode "Walking Distance":

"Martin Sloan, age thirty-six, vice-president in charge of media. Successful in most things but not in the one effort that all men try at some time in their lives—trying to go home again. And also like all men, perhaps there'll be an occasion, maybe a summer night sometime, when he'll look up from what he's doing and listen to the distant music of a calliope, and hear the voices and the laughter of the people and the places of his past. And perhaps across his mind there'll flit a little errant wish, that a man might not have to become old, never outgrow the parks and the merry-go-rounds of his youth. And he'll smile then too, because he'll know it is just an errant wish, some wisp of memory not too important really, some laughing ghosts that cross a man's mind, that are a part of the Twilight Zone."

Heck, like many others I'm quite nostalgic for the days of my youth (1960's and 70's) and you do tend to remember the good things rather than the unpleasant memories. But if I had to go to the dentist or the doctor, I'd much rather go in 2022 than 1972.

Excellent. I grew up on Twilight Zone reruns late 70s, early 80s. I was about 12 when I got my first 12" black and white tv in my bedroom and they ran Twilight Zone at 11pm followed by Outer Limits, never missed them.

As far as doctors, I generally agree. But I'd also love to be able to go back to a time when "home visits" were a thing vs. waiting HOURS in an ER.

[OutofBatt3ry]

My life has spanned 5 decades (not 50, but you get it)

Never has it been this bad. Maybe in the 30's? My grandparents told me about hunting gofers and guinea pigs(I suppose if you're hungry enough, anything is better than nothing) for food. It wouldn't surprise me if I get to see my kids/grandkids do that in my lifetime. Good times...not really.

[ABNAK]

Uphill.

Barefoot.

Both ways......