The Past Is Not Set in Stone

I am currently reading it ,Tainted Cup,fantasy detective novel.

Think “Sherlock Holmes set in Westeros.”

This escalation allows the main character to absorb every detail of each interaction, the scene of the crime, and then recite those exact details.

I remember a great one Black Mirror passage on this topic: being able to remember all the facts of every past interaction.

Here’s the thing: the facts in all of these scenarios may be true, but the analysis of those facts still leaves a lot of room for improvement.

I thought a lot about this when I came across two stories I want to share:

“,The Past Is Not True,” by Derek Sivers:

When I was 17 years old, I was driving recklessly and crashed into an oncoming car. I found out that I broke the other driver’s spine, and he will never walk again.

I carried this burden with me everywhere, and for so many years I felt so terrible that at the age of 35 I decided to find this woman to ask for forgiveness. I found his name and address, went to his house, knocked on the door and a middle-aged woman answered. As soon as I said, “I’m the teenager who hit your car and broke my spine eighteen years ago,” I started sobbing – a big ugly cry, bringing out years of regret.

He was very sweet, and he hugged me saying: “Oh, dear, dear! don’t worry I’m fine!” Then he ushered me into his living room. walk

I misunderstood.

Yes he broke a couple of vertebrae but he never stopped walking. He said that “little accident” helped him focus more on his fitness, and he’s been in better health than ever since.

Then he apologized first for causing the accident. Apologize

And this ,The story about “good days”., From author Morgan Housel:

A few months ago I reminded my wife how terrible it was (life was in our early 20’s). We were 23, working for a living, living in our own version of the Taj Mahal. This was before kids, so on the weekends we slept in until 10:00, went for a walk, had lunch, took a nap, and went out for dinner. That was our life. For years

“That was the high life, as good as it gets,” I said.

“What are you talking about?” he said “You were more nervous, scared, and probably more depressed than you’ve ever been.”

…In my head, today, I look back and think: “I should have been very happy then. Those were my best years.’

But in reality, at the time, I was thinking, “I can’t wait for these years to be over.”

It made me think a lot about the past and our future. Turns out, neither is set in stone!

Which story from the past can you rewrite?

As the cliché goes, it’s easier to connect the dots looking back than looking forward.

Is there a story from your past about a certain moment that you still carry with you?

Maybe he’s full of shame because of something that happened, but he brought you something better.

Maybe it’s a longing for a past life that never existed.

The past already happened, but that doesn’t mean it’s set in stone!

Back to Sivers:

“You can change your history.

Actual real events are a small part of it. Everything else is perspective, open to reinterpretation.

The past is never done.”

I’d love to know what story you’re telling about the past, good or bad, that you decide to rewrite?

-Steve

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