Welcome to Bloganuary. It’s this thing that WordPress is doing to encourage bloggers to post something every day by providing a regular prompt. I think that “Bloguary” would not only sound better but makes more sense. Maybe they’re saving that for next month. But if they go with Blogebruary I’m dropping out. Anyway, today’s prompt asks the question: Do you spend more time thinking about the future or the past? Why?

Do I spend more time thinking about the past or the future? As a professional over-analyzer, this question has plagued me for years.

On one hand, I’m prone to nostalgic reverie, reminiscing about old relationships and experiences with rose-colored glasses. The comfort of familiar memories can be tempting to revisit. But I try not to dwell too long, or I’ll end up like ol’ Nick from The Great Gatsby, perpetually reaching for a past beyond retrieval.

The future, meanwhile, presents a feast of hypotheticals to fixate on. My mind salivates imagining best case scenarios of success and contentment. But overindulging leads to anxiety when perfection inevitably fails to materialize.

In my more enlightened moments, I aim to remain in the present, mindful of each passing minute. But my monkey mind insists on swinging wildly through memories and daydreams, chattering all the while.

Ultimately, the past and future both have their place, providing context around the ever-unfolding now. The key is balance, preventing excessive rumination in either direction. This remains an ongoing meditation.

So which temporal domain occupies more of my mental real estate? The jury is still out. But I’m sure my therapist has some thoughts she’d happily share for a reasonable fee.

What about you? Feel free to weigh in below on whether you spend more time reminiscing or fantasizing. Just try not to get lost in the time warp!

Feature Photo by Giallo