I am reading The Contaminated Cupa fantastic detective novel.
Think “Sherlock Holmes set in Westeros.”
The main character has this augmentation that allows him to absorb every detail of every interaction, crime scene, and then recite those exact details at a later date.
I remember a horrible Black mirror episode about this specific thing: being able to remember every fact of every interaction in the past.
Here's the problem: In all of these scenarios, the facts may be true, but analyzing those facts still leaves a lot of room for improvement.
I've been thinking about this a lot recently when I came across two stories I want to share:
“The past is not true» by Derek Sivers:
When I was 17, I was driving recklessly and crashed into an oncoming car. I found out I had broken the other driver's spine and she would never walk again.
I carried this burden with me everywhere and felt so horrible for so many years that at 35 I decided to find this woman to apologize. I found her name and address, went to her house, knocked on the door and was answered by a middle-aged woman. As soon as I said, “I'm the teenager who hit your car eighteen years ago and broke your spine,” I started sobbing – a big ugly cry, bringing out years of regret.
She was so sweet and hugged me and said, “Oh my darling, my darling!” Don't worry. I'm fine!” Then she accompanied me to her living room. I walked.
Turns out I misunderstood.
Yes, she fractured a few vertebrae, but that never stopped her from walking. She said “that little accident” helped her pay more attention to her fitness and since then she has been healthier than ever.
SO she apologized for causing the accident in the first place. I apologized.
And that story about “the good old days” from the author Morgan Housel:
A few months ago I reminded my wife how awesome it was [life was in our early 20s]. We were 23 years old, gainfully employed, and living in our version of the Taj Mahal. This was before kids, so we would sleep until 10 a.m. on weekends, go for walks, have brunch, take a nap, and go out to dinner. It was our life. For years.
“It was the pinnacle of life, as good as it gets,” I told him.
“What are you talking about?” she said. “You were more anxious, scared and probably depressed then than you have ever been.”
…In my head today, I look back and think, “I must have been so happy then.” Those were my best years.
But actually, at the time, I was thinking, “I can’t wait for these years to be over.”
It makes me think a lot about the past and our future. Turns out neither is set in stone!
What past history can you rewrite?
As the cliché goes, it's easier to connect the dots looking backwards than forwards.
Is there a story from your past about a special moment that you still carry with you?
It may be a shame about something that happened, but it led to something even better for you.
Maybe it's a desire for a past life that never really existed.
The past has already happened, but that doesn't mean it's set in stone!
Return to Sivers:
“You can change your story.
Actual factual events represent only a tiny part of it. Everything else is perspective, open to reinterpretation.
The past is never over.
I would like to know what story you tell yourself about the past, good or bad, and decide to rewrite?
-Steve
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#Isnt #Set #Stone