When it comes to literary knowledge and expressions, you can say I'm a firm admirer of them. Though my academic and professional journey didn't take me that route, it remains one that captivates me almost every time it comes my way. There's this flair for it and a beautiful perception of it, maybe because it gives me these tingles and chills.
Going through my mind and my phone as well, considering what to bring to this space, something dropped into my mind. It happens to sound very appealing because it's one of those literary expressions. “Your future is your history” was what popped up inside my head. You know, looking at that statement on a surface level reveals no truth, and that's the good thing about paradoxes and metaphors.
For such reason is why I tend to find these expressions appealing and captivating. The ability to present an idea that a shallow perception won't get a real hold of it adds a lot of value to such expressions. This one is nonetheless one of such. But then, what does it really mean, since it doesn't even really sound true? Well, it's the beauty of paradox, I say again.
“Your future is your history” presents a paradox that suggests that, what will become of your tomorrow is what will remain as your story, as your history. We all will exit time at one point and go into the great beyond. Or even while still in time, there's a point we could reach that our deeds will speak for us in the conversation room of past events, deeds and history. And there can be no conversation about a past without a “future” it happened in.
When we try to go down history or memory lane, and we try to recognise or call a past event to account, there's always a date attached to it, when such a deed or event happened. At one point, that date, and perhaps time also, was a future projection. Today is August 30th, of the year 2025. What one might do tomorrow, being the 31st, especially when it marks a historical relevance will be remembered as a history in consonance with the date.
Hence, the discourse in this post revolves around the narrative that tomorrow's actions or inactions will determine what will remain on the sands of history as a record or remembrance on one's behalf. It's a call then to realise and reason how much worth the future carries before wasting it or underutilising it.
The future will always come, and it will certainly pass into the past as well, becoming history. But what will make for a successful future and wonderful/inspiring history is what was invested in the future, today. Yes, there's a conversation about today too. There can be no history without a future, and there can be no future without a present. You might need to read that again, I guess. Chuckles.
Everyone desires a beautiful future, but not all might really put into consideration what that future could mean for history sake. Thinking of what will remain etched on our names in the conversations of our historical accounts; while still in time or out of time, is a way of considering the future as well. That will definitely affect how we use the present, which is a limited connection between our future and our history.
Well, I hope this makes sense in some way.
Images are mine.
