I’m at the moment studying The Tainted Cup, a fantasy detective novel.
Suppose “Sherlock Holmes set in Westeros.”
The principle character has this augmentation that enables him to soak up each single element of each interplay, crime scene, after which recite again these precise particulars at a later date.
I keep in mind a horrifying Black Mirror episode about this very factor: having the ability to recall each reality of each interplay up to now.
Right here’s the factor: in all of those situations, the information is perhaps true, however the evaluation of those information nonetheless leaves loads of room for enchancment.
I thought of this so much not too long ago after I stumbled 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 automotive. I came upon that I broke the opposite driver’s backbone, and she or he’ll by no means stroll once more.
I carried that burden with me all over the place, and felt so horrible about it for thus a few years that at age 35 I made a decision to search out this lady to apologize. I discovered her title and handle, went to her home, knocked on the door, and a middle-aged lady answered. As quickly as I mentioned, “I’m {the teenager} that hit your automotive eighteen years in the past and broke your backbone”, I began sobbing – a giant ugly cry, surfacing years of remorse.
She was so candy, and hugged me saying, “Oh sweetie, sweetie! Don’t fear. I’m wonderful!” Then she walked me into her front room. Walked.
Seems I had misunderstood.
Sure she fractured a pair vertebrae nevertheless it by no means stopped her from strolling. She mentioned “that little accident” helped her pay extra consideration to her health, and since then has been in higher well being than ever.
Then she apologized for inflicting the accident within the first place. Apologized.
And this story about “the good ole days” from writer Morgan Housel:
A couple of months in the past I reminisced to my spouse about how superior [life was in our early 20s]. We have been 23, gainfully employed, residing in our model of the Taj Mahal. This was earlier than children, so we slept in till 10am on the weekends, went for a stroll, had brunch, took a nap, and went out for dinner. That was our life. For years.
“That was peak residing, nearly as good because it will get,” I informed her.
“What are you speaking about?” she mentioned. “You have been extra anxious, scared, and doubtless depressed then than you’ve ever been.”
…In my head, right this moment, I look again and suppose, “I should have been so glad then. These have been my greatest years.”
However in actuality, on the time, I used to be pondering, “I can’t watch for these years to finish.”
It has me pondering so much concerning the previous, and our future. It seems, neither one is about in stone!
Which Previous Story are you able to rewrite?
Because the cliché goes, it’s simpler to attach the dots trying backward than it’s trying ahead.
Is there a narrative out of your previous a couple of specific second you’re nonetheless carrying with you?
Possibly it’s one filled with disgrace about one thing that occurred, nevertheless it led to one thing even higher for you.
Possibly it’s eager for a previous life that by no means really existed.
The previous already occurred, however that doesn’t imply it’s set in stone!
Returning to Sivers:
“You possibly can change your historical past.
The precise factual occasions are such a small a part of it. All the pieces else is perspective, open for re-interpretation.
The previous is rarely executed.”
I’d like to know which story you’re telling your self concerning the previous, good or unhealthy, that you just’re deciding to rewrite?
-Steve
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