Tuesday, August 19, 2008

On Being Young

I think the primary way I know I'm young is that my thought life is still made up of approximately 90% future thoughts and 10% past thoughts. Having my head tilted consistently future-ward is pleasantly but exhaustively and exasperatingly active and confusing. But at this point it's preferable to gazing back at what's been. At this point I still always have the comforting, if weak, sentiment: "when I'm old I'll understand why all this happened and it will all make sense".

If only.

4 comments:

PH Ben said...

I wonder...as there seems to be some comprehensive limit to one's views towards either the future or the past (with a ever-fleeting eye towards the present, oops you just missed it), then does that forward looking view at some point hit a prescient wall and begin to fall back to introspective reflection where you are only seeing 10-20% forward and 80-90% back. At what point does that happen, and what is the primary cause?

Elizabeth said...

Hmm...is "prescient" the word of the day? ;) Nice.

As far as your question goes, I guess I'll respond in 30 years or so and then tell you what I think.

IBNanouk said...

Hey, EML, thinking about the future is not reserved for the young, if by your definition, then I am a child ;-)

I think about the future about 98% of the time. I learn from the past, but spend most of the time looking to what the future may hold based on the consequences of my present decisions. So I guess I am "young" as well at 54.

You need to blog more, Eliza-May, I like reading your ideas even though I don't agree with most, I still like understanding how your mind works.

Take care, lady.
DIL

Jane said...

I think there are seasons for both. I'm turning 50 this summer, and have been reflecting more on my life as a whole. Learning from the past helps me make better choices moving ahead. My motto, Love without fear, live without regrets.
- Jane