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I'm not sure. Maybe it's because I have a poor memory to begin with, but I just don't see the reason for this. It reminds me of older people (mind, I'm over 60

I'm not sure. Maybe it's because I have a poor memory to begin with, but I just don't see the reason for this. It reminds me of older people (mind, I'm over 60 myself) who spend all their time reminiscing. Isn't it better to look forward rather than back? Approaching retirement, my pressing question is: what do I want to do next?

newman8r 3y ago
> Isn't it better to look forward rather than back? After looking into some basic Zen philosophy, I think it also makes sense to consider focusing on spending more time in the present. The past and the future being ideas compared to the reality of the present - it's like watching a movie compared to real life. If the plight of the old is to reminisce, perhaps the plight of the young is to daydream. Both are important parts of life, but taking time to appreciate the present is easy to leave out.
thread_id 3y ago
I also am over 60 and my philosophy regarding this topic is similar. Life is a series of moments that happen and are over never to be revisted again (unless you make this effort - and good for those who do and get value in their lives for having done so). My memory of the past is also limited - I remember random people and events going back to early childhood for reasons I don't fully understand, but mostly I have forgotten all the eras of my life and I don't really dwell on it. I have no concept of time and it has always been that way and age has had zero impact here. I get it "The unexamined life..." etc. So I invest energy in introspection and self discovery in service of continuous improvment. Whether I am satisfied with the life I have lived or not makes no difference - I cannot go back and change it. However, no longer do I have the luxury of time. By comparison to the journey I have already completed, I have very few moments remaining. And one day.... So I gratfully focus on this moment and all the precious few moments I am graced with.
kredd 3y ago
I'm on the younger side, but my parents are in their 70s, and I recall them saying something along the lines of "what is life, if not a collection of memories", and it kinda stuck with me. Most likely it's just some quote they've read in the past, and were just reiterating it, but still. I generally agree with you. There might not be a good reason to look back into the past constantly, but the author ends the post with a personal note about how their mom is going through Alzheimer's. And I can somewhat relate to that, as my grandma used to live with us in the last 10 years of her life, and it was devastating to watch how feeble her memories were getting every day. At some point, when you're just sitting at a dinner table on a Thursday night with people whom you've known for ages, recollecting some memories from the past is just... nice. There really isn't a good reason, or benefit for the future and what not; it just feels good. Thus I can see why someone would want to cherish those times, trying their best to not forget them.
booleandilemma 3y ago
This is basically my dad. He almost routinely asks me about things that happened 10 or 15 years ago.
UncleOxidant 3y ago
I'm also 60 and probably retired - maybe I'll find some work again when the tech job market recovers - and I'm spending a lot of time trying to figure out what to do next. The author of the piece says: "The great benefit of this process, even as I struggle with it, is it gives me a rounded view of my life." While I can understand that spending some time reviewing the past can have value, what this person is doing seems excessive and I'm not sure I'd call it 'rounded'. I think in my case thinking about the past can reveal how things have or haven't changed in fundamental ways. For example, I was reminded yesterday of a local startup in my area that was working on a neural network accelerator chip in the early 90s and reflected on how many companies are now trying to do the same. There's nothing new under the sun as a wise man once said - what has been will be again. This kind of reminiscing gives perspective.

newman8r 3y ago

> Isn't it better to look forward rather than back? After looking into some basic Zen philosophy, I think it also makes sense to consider focusing on spending more time in the present. The past and the future being ideas compared to the reality of the present - it's like watching a movie compared to real life. If the plight of the old is to reminisce, perhaps the plight of the young is to daydream. Both are important parts of life, but taking time to appreciate the present is easy to leave out.

thread_id 3y ago

I also am over 60 and my philosophy regarding this topic is similar. Life is a series of moments that happen and are over never to be revisted again (unless you make this effort - and good for those who do and get value in their lives for having done so). My memory of the past is also limited - I remember random people and events going back to early childhood for reasons I don't fully understand, but mostly I have forgotten all the eras of my life and I don't really dwell on it. I have no concept of time and it has always been that way and age has had zero impact here. I get it "The unexamined life..." etc. So I invest energy in introspection and self discovery in service of continuous improvment. Whether I am satisfied with the life I have lived or not makes no difference - I cannot go back and change it. However, no longer do I have the luxury of time. By comparison to the journey I have already completed, I have very few moments remaining. And one day.... So I gratfully focus on this moment and all the precious few moments I am graced with.

kredd 3y ago

I'm on the younger side, but my parents are in their 70s, and I recall them saying something along the lines of "what is life, if not a collection of memories", and it kinda stuck with me. Most likely it's just some quote they've read in the past, and were just reiterating it, but still. I generally agree with you. There might not be a good reason to look back into the past constantly, but the author ends the post with a personal note about how their mom is going through Alzheimer's. And I can somewhat relate to that, as my grandma used to live with us in the last 10 years of her life, and it was devastating to watch how feeble her memories were getting every day. At some point, when you're just sitting at a dinner table on a Thursday night with people whom you've known for ages, recollecting some memories from the past is just... nice. There really isn't a good reason, or benefit for the future and what not; it just feels good. Thus I can see why someone would want to cherish those times, trying their best to not forget them.

booleandilemma 3y ago

This is basically my dad. He almost routinely asks me about things that happened 10 or 15 years ago.

UncleOxidant 3y ago

I'm also 60 and probably retired - maybe I'll find some work again when the tech job market recovers - and I'm spending a lot of time trying to figure out what to do next. The author of the piece says: "The great benefit of this process, even as I struggle with it, is it gives me a rounded view of my life." While I can understand that spending some time reviewing the past can have value, what this person is doing seems excessive and I'm not sure I'd call it 'rounded'. I think in my case thinking about the past can reveal how things have or haven't changed in fundamental ways. For example, I was reminded yesterday of a local startup in my area that was working on a neural network accelerator chip in the early 90s and reflected on how many companies are now trying to do the same. There's nothing new under the sun as a wise man once said - what has been will be again. This kind of reminiscing gives perspective.