Influence Of Past And Present

Buddha, a man who devoted himself to years of contemplation and self-denial, once said “do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment”. Thinking too much about times gone by typically keeps your mind stuck in neutral. Existing in an earlier life could result in revisiting feelings of anger, guilt, resentment, sorrow, or shame. Obsessing about the people and events precipitating such negative feelings can lead to endless rethinking. Becoming increasingly lifeless, or infatuated, thinking really cannot progress toward any resolution. Ultimately, it is pointless to employ memory to hold onto what may have been lost many years ago. As a result of not letting go of the past, it is possible to be robbed of present opportunities. Often, in many novels the characters are still dwelling on their past in the present. In The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, the author demonstrates how George Wilson and Jay Gatsby are held hostage by their pasts with little hope for their futures.

Often times we find ourselves thinking about the past only to try to force the memories away and return to our current delusion. We can never erase the past, but if the past is who we are, then should we just welcome pain back into our lives? Embarrassment, guilt, and pride betray us as we choose to bury our darkest memories in our head and look to a positive future without ever having to readdress them and acknowledge that they had ever happened in the first place. Thinking back now my weakest moment caught me by complete surprise.

In 1783, the United States, Great Britain, Spain and France signed the Treaty of Paris, signifying the end of the Revolutionary War. America was recognized as an independent nation, no longer under the control of the British or any other European power. Yet in the years following the revolution, the United States’ history and policies were still greatly influenced by the actions and conflicts of foreign powers. Between the French Revolution in 1789 and the War of 1812, the United States was more involved in the European conflicts it might have prefered. In the years of 1789 to 1815, Europe greatly impacted American history and policy, although the United States still developed independently to a certain extent.

Do events of the past affect an individual’s life? How important are memories of the past for people of the future? Does the past, even relate to the future at all? To figure out the answers to these questions, one has to understand the impact that past events can do to one’s future. Events in the past are essential to an individual 's development and can change their perspective of life. As a matter of fact, you can see these questions being answered in Classical Literature, Modern Literature, Current Events and even Visual Rhetoric.

Among their past having a great effect on their present self, Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby, Willie Bodega in Bodega Dreams and Eric Carmen the composer of Boats Against the Current remain hopeful in trying to achieve their goal. The authors and writers of these pieces of literature all talk about a character's past with one another and then moves to the present and has them with a different character. This takes a toll on Gatsby and Bodega as they both try to show the love they once had, but both fail trying to do so. Although some may say your past is in the past, i believe that your past can greatly influence your present and future self as shown by Fitzgerald, Quinonez and Eric Carmen by the use of symbolism and characterization.

The actions made in the past can determine the course of your life. Even the choices that weren't your own.

The birth of America was rather dark than golden. At an early age, kids are taught in school about the great hero, Christopher Columbus, who claimed to have discovered this country. People have been deceived by false information given through textbooks and online sources, but under a thin layer of American history is the tragedy of Native Americans, who lived on this land hundreds of years before the “discovery”. The arrival of the settlers were the main turning points of change in lifestyle for the Native Americans, affecting the daily lives and traditions of the Native Americans in the past and today.

Another influential change in 1970 was the role of women on campus. One dorm integrated the sexes (Yackety Yack, 1970, p. 23) alongside Pi Lambda Phi, the university’s only coed fraternity (Hancher, 1970, p. 1). At this time, women on campus had strict rules concerning their activities after hours. Some of these rules were loosened. For example, by 1970 women no longer had to sign out if leaving their rooms after 11 pm and could enjoy the freedom of spending time in men’s housing (White, 1969, p. 2). While reigns were still tight on what women were permitted to do on campus, these small changes still strongly impacted the campus dynamic.

“The past beats inside me like a second heart.” This is an important quote from an accredited novelist called John Banville. He is basically stating that memories help give people life. They are the things that make us who we are today. One thing that threatens this beautiful thing that makes us who we are is Alzheimer’s. It is a detrimental disease that mostly attacks today’s elderly. Most people do not know how bad this disease is today because the world is focused on other diseases without realizing how dangerous this disease can be. Alzheimer’s is a growing problem in this society and needs to be attended to so we can find a cure.

Someone's past can really affect a person in many ways. The past can make the person that they are right now, and they can change through experiences, decisions, and personal thoughts. People tend to learn from their personal experiences and they learn from them so they don't make the same mistake in the future.

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment,” preached Buddha. In depth, I think Buddha seemed to understand that the past is not relevant in succeeding the present. The present is meant to be lived thoroughly with a present tense mind. Unknowingly over thinking the future prevents the mind from enjoying the present. Dwelling over an event that occurred in the past interferes with the natural order of living in the present. It seems unlikely to even appreciate or enjoy the present if the past and future are what the mind is currently thinking of. The key is to clear the mind of all negative and stressful thoughts that arise about the future or past. Don’t be a Busy Backson

Past, present and future are all important to keep in perspective. Looking back and not having regrets is extremely satisfying. Your current situation and your contentment with it are also very important, and having goals and milestones to work toward in the future keeps you motivated and keeps life interesting and challenging.

This quote reminds me of the process of what goes through my mind everyday. When you start to think about past experiences you can learn and see things in a new light after thinking about it for a little while. Your brain keeps on thinking of other memories that were similar. This can bring a source of comfort. Thinking about some of past good memories you made.

Everyone’s past can have some bumps in the road that can result in misery, regret but also happiness. But it can also play an important role

A traumatic past can shape a person’s overall view on the world. Many times, the memories of the past negatively affect the person. In the book The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger, the author develops Holden’s cynical attitude by connecting him to painful memories and events such as Allie’s death, losing touch with Jane, and losing his trust in adulthood.