Do you think people who live in the past can be happy?
By taura2p
@taura2p (349)
Romania
December 15, 2011 10:18am CST
I know many people who can't seem to overcome the past. They always think of it and try to go back to their past events. But that cannot be done, and they would not understand it. I think that they cannot concentrate on the present, and they can't be happy as losng as they keep looking back. Do you look back? Do you think this kind of people could ever be happy?
2 people like this
15 responses
@LovingMyBabies (85290)
• Valdosta, Georgia
19 Jun 12
I feel that people should move on from their past. It takes a lot of hard work for some though to do so.
Some people just don't have the determination or the support to do so. I am glad I can think about the past without dwelling on things from the past.
@Kashidanga1971 (1354)
• Bangladesh
19 Jun 12
Our past experience was sweeter than that of present. A man gets nostalgic as because he finds much pleasure in roaming in the past memories. Sometimes man survives in his sweet memories. Its humans nature.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
17 Dec 11
Personally it bothers me people who always seem to look back at everything, and cannot move ahead. Especially people who have been abused, and they tend to never want to move on in life. As a survivor of abuse, I tried going to support groups but too many women wanted to live in their past and reflect on it as if it was still happening and never move on. I am Glad as a Christian even though I have my rough moments that I have learned to move on and have a great life for sure.
@sender621 (14894)
• United States
16 Dec 11
I believe that living in the past cam bring us happiness butr that happiness is often shortlived. moving forward into the future may seem difficult at times but that is where life should be lived to give us perspective of our lives and the world.
@sijabatnaburjut (2171)
• Indonesia
16 Dec 11
The past is part of the present. We can't escape from the past. By seeing our life from the past, we can know and see what's wrong or right we have done in the past, then we can make judgement about our life in the past, so we know what to deal with it. Sometimes, we learn from the past. Like I said in the initial sentences that the present time is series events from the life in the past.
@svjomboy (873)
• Philippines
16 Dec 11
Its hard to live in the past coz i know its hard to move on.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
15 Dec 11
Why not? I am one who mostly lives in the past. Wanna know why? Well, I have been ill since the past several years. Forced to stay at home, do all my work from home. So the memories of the past keep me going. I see the positive aspects that I cherish and will continue to until I die.
This doesnt mean that I dont look forward or think about the present. I do. But I also know that this ailment of mine is non-curable and I have to live all my life with it. So I have to maintain a balance and I am happy that I am able to do the balance of things.
So my response to your query is - It all depends on how you look at your past, and how you interpret that one. And happiness is a thing that you can always find no matter what the circumstances are. Look forward, or the present or the past, I am sure everyone has that capacity to find happiness... just that we dont realize it
@sjlskl (3382)
• Singapore
16 Dec 11
Usually, when one is younger, they have lesser burden and responsibility. As a result, life is better and more carefree. That explains why people always yearn to return to the past. Another reason could be that they wish to have another chance to right the wrong decisions they have made before.
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
15 Dec 11
Yes living in the past makes happy. I can assure you of that. the past is what we know and what we know is safe. this besides of good memories.
@writersolutions10 (497)
• India
16 Dec 11
No, definitely not. Past is the past. We should not think about the past and the mistakes we did. Everyone does mistakes and it is past. We need to look forward to life and enjoy it fullest.
@chrisanto (94)
• Philippines
16 Dec 11
Its not easy to live normally if you have a bad experience in the past especially if it is a traumatic experience. That is why the role of the psychologist and the family is very important so that the person can move on in his normal life. It must be gradual and not painstaking leaving the past. There must be a complete acceptance on the part of the person. With out total acceptance, I don't think you can live normally and be happy.
@Almateea (53)
• Romania
15 Dec 11
Some people find comfort in the past, and they can be happy in their own world. I would not judge them because I could never do that and it is impossible for me to understand. I live in the present but I always cherish the good times in the past and I always try to learn from my mistakes.
@AshwinSajith (602)
• India
15 Dec 11
It is not wrong to look back at the past as long as one learns from it and does not repeat the same mistakes again. The problem starts only when people start dwelling too much in the past and worrying about what has already happened. One must realise that there is no use crying over spilt milk and learn to move on and live in the present.
I for one do not think too much about my past as I believing in the present. I believed whatever has happened has happened for a reason and try to live by the day.
@icyrose123 (133)
• India
15 Dec 11
I feel looking back as a bad sign. Unfortunately I sont remember any good events that happened in the past days. Mostly the negative events stick to my mind so I would not prefer to live in the past
@peavey (16936)
• United States
15 Dec 11
I know people like that, too, and I think it's a very negative way to live. All we have is the present. The past is gone and can never be changed and we are not promised tomorrow at all. I feel sorry for those who can't seem to live in the present.
We all think about the past at times, I'm sure, but to live there is to deny the life we have.