Independent Thinking

A thought about being in the "Now"

If you have read my idea of the "Reality Pipe" I would like to expound on this thought. In talking to my adult son recently, I was able to put into words one of the important "corallary" to the graphic representation therein.

If you stand and look at the pipe nearest you, the items that are floating just behind you, the things that are coalescing, or slowing and sticking in place, these are of great importance. I would put it to you that these things hold our attention more than any other. They have the power to freeze you in your tracks. They can steal your very soul. I don't exagerate much, and this is why...

When you watch the news, what are you spending your time doing? You are spending your valuable NOW time IN THE PAST! You are watching what HAPPENED somewhere at some time before. Now, you may say, what is the harm? How else can I find out what is happening in the world? And, you would be right. There is no other way to find out about affairs in the world but to look to the past. 

But, lets examine other things in our world that hold us in rapt attention to things that are in the past. What about social sites? Facebook, twitter, Myspace and so on. Are they not holding us hostage, at least a bit? Let me explain please.

If I were living in the present, would I not be "doing" something? Is not the news made up of people who were "doing" things? When you tell someone, "communicating" in the broadest sense of the word, about something that "happened" you are spending your current time, talking about the past! Most entertainment fits into my catagory of being in the past. Television, movies and other passive things (passtimes) steal your life. Playing cards with friends is a better alternative. It may not accomplish much, but you are at least doing something in the here and now. Good times with friends is a great way to spend time and build memories. No one reminisces about sitting on the couch, five years ago, and watching a movie alone. But you can remember a nice walk in the park. 

So, I propose that, the only time you are truly in the "present" is when you are doing things that may be "news making" as opposed to spreading the news. 

How many hours, days, weeks and years do we spend, wasting our NOW time living in the past, and not even realizing it!? Get your nose out of time wasting devices, and DO something. Don't you have goals in life? A bucket list? If you are worried about the state of affairs in your country, then get involved in the politics. If you want to learn, take a class or read a book. Just please, don't get frozen in place always looking backward in time. Sorry if it sounds a bit harsh or chastizing.