The human mind is infinitely complex. And the human heart, glorified by lovers and poets, can be as complex as it is delicate. Whether we think with our minds or with our hearts, we seem to have a strong craving for the past.
The present is perpetually becoming the past. The moments we live in are drowning in the sea of history. Second by second, minute by minute, and hour by hour, we drift into the future, while the past grows forever.
Our desire to be alive keeps us living and breathing in the moment, and our hopes and dreams keep us tied to the future. And yet, our feet are on the ground of the past.
Everything we learn, we learn from the days that have passed us by. The rearview mirror of our life reveals the moments we cherish. Haunting memories come from all the years that are captured in the books of our personal history.
As much as we look forward into the future, the sounds of laughter and cries from the past never leave us. We can never let go of our past, regardless of how eager we may be to see our destiny being unveiled.
Even as we focus on the present, a familiar smell or a sweet melody can draw us into the past. A scent can bring to our memory a person we knew, a place we visited, or a feast we once enjoyed. Music can remind us of our childhood, teen years, a certain holiday, or an occasion once celebrated. A certain taste, too, can help us walk down a long lane of memories and bring back glimpses from the past.
While the future may be hazy and ambiguous, the images from the past may be quite vivid. At every step, we experience a craving for the days that we left behind. It is only when we embrace, examine, and learn from the past, we can move forward into the future.