Some days it feels like the entire planet is trying to close in on you. The world’s continents become intruding walls while its oceans flood your already confusing thoughts. It is the beauty of nature that brings you back into your weathered shoes. But even then, you struggle to identify yourself.
Over the past few years, a number of influences have clouded my reason. I have to constantly deal with a thousand different sources coming at me at a thousand different angles with a thousand different views. I am left cornered and confused.
Who are we exactly?
Some say we are a convention of our past experiences. The things we’ve done have led us to become the people we are today. We should look to our past for the key to our future.
Others say the complete opposite- dwelling in the past is a waste of time. We are our futures and we can become whoever we want despite our past.
And, of course, there are those who live in the moment. Forget the past and the future, live for now.
Everyday, we have people telling us to live our lives according to one of these maxims, but I don’t think it has to be that way.
Most people would agree that defining ourselves based on the expectations of the commercial world is insulting. We are more valuable than our net worth in shoes.
Moreover, disagreement surrounding the manner in which we live our lives is just as futile as the material things we surround ourselves with.
I have had many difficult things happen in my past. Things that are hard to let go. And why should I? Why should I listen to those people who tell me to let go of the past when it is so much a part of who I am today.
I also don’t think I would be the same person if I didn’t have such immense ambitions for the future.
We have all lived different lives. To say that people should live according to distinct moments in time is small-minded.
The whole point is for all of those moments to contribute to the highest understanding of life we can find. We would be incomplete without our lessons from the past, the adrenaline rush of living in the moment, and the things we strive for in our futures combined.
It is in the combination of our past, present and future identities that we find who we really are.