The previous isn’t set in stone

I’m at the moment studying ​Contaminated cup​A fictional detective novel.

Suppose “Sherlock Holmes is about in Westeros.”

The principle character has this enhancement that enables him to soak up each element of each interplay and crime scene after which re-read these minute particulars later.

I bear in mind terrifying Black mirror An episode about this very factor: the power to recollect each reality from each previous interplay.

Right here's the factor: In all of those situations, the information could also be true, however analyzing these information nonetheless leaves quite a lot of room for enchancment.

I've been fascinated by this quite a bit just lately once I got here throughout two tales I wish to share:

“​The past is not true​From Derek Sivers:

After I was 17, I used to be driving recklessly and crashed into an oncoming automobile. I discovered that I had damaged the opposite driver's backbone, and he or she would by no means have the ability to stroll once more.

I carried this burden with me in every single place, and I felt so dangerous about it for thus a few years that on the age of 35 I made a decision to seek out this girl and apologize. I discovered her identify and handle, went to her home, knocked on the door, and a middle-aged girl answered. As quickly as I stated, “I'm {the teenager} who hit your automobile eighteen years in the past and broke your backbone,” I began crying — a giant, ugly cry that dropped at the floor years of remorse.

She was so candy, hugging me and saying, “Oh child, child! Don't fear. I'm superb!” Then she took me into her lounge. He walked.

It seems I had misunderstood.

Sure, she broke two vertebrae, however that didn’t forestall her from strolling. She stated that “this easy incident” helped her care for her health, and since then she has been more healthy than ever.

then I apologized To trigger the accident within the first place. I apologize.

And this ​A story about “the good days”​ From the writer Morgan Housel:

A couple of months in the past I discussed to my spouse how fantastic it’s [life was in our early 20s]. We have been 23 years previous, gainfully employed, and residing in our model of the Taj Mahal. This was earlier than children, so we might sleep in till 10 a.m. on the weekends, go for a stroll, have brunch, take a nap, and exit to dinner. That was our life. For years.

“That was the head of life, pretty much as good because it might be,” I advised her.

“What are you speaking about?” she stated. “I used to be extra anxious, afraid, and doubtless depressed than ever earlier than.”

…In my head, as we speak, I look again and suppose, “I should have been so joyful then.” These have been my greatest years.”

However truly, on the time, I used to be pondering: “I can't watch for these years to be over.”

It made me suppose quite a bit in regards to the previous and our future. It seems that nobody is about in stone!

What previous story may you rewrite?

As the favored saying goes, it's simpler to attach the dots once you look again than ahead.

Is there a narrative out of your previous a few particular second that you simply nonetheless carry with you?

Possibly you’re stuffed with disgrace about one thing that occurred, however it led to one thing higher for you.

Possibly it's nostalgia for a previous life that by no means truly existed.

The previous has already occurred, however that doesn't imply it's engraved in stone!

Again to Sivers:

“You possibly can change your historical past.

Precise real-life occasions are a small a part of it. All the things else is a perspective open to reinterpretation.

The previous by no means ends.”

I wish to know what story you inform your self in regards to the previous, good or dangerous, that you simply determine to rewrite?

-Steve

###