"We do not remember days. We remeber moments..."
By spicymary
@spicymary (558)
Romania
January 2, 2013 6:07am CST
These are some famous words said by Cesare Pavese. The main character of a less known movie used to tell them. I didn't knew until today that they belong to somebody else than the writer of the movie and that they are quite famous. Anyway...
Have you ever had the feeling that the past was so much better than the future, but when you started to think more about, it wasn't? I mean, remembering a holiday, some wonderful days that you spend on some beach with a significant somebody. You will remember them with joy and nostalgia. Maybe you will compare present days with the image of those from the past.
But when you remember the past, you just focus on some moments that you liked. You do not remember days, whole days. So, you don't remember the things that didn't let you feel totally happy. You forget that at the perfect holiday to the beach, you didn't have enough money to buy something you wanted, your partner refused to swimm with you etc. etc. Small things that ruined some of your time. You just vanish from your memory keeping just the big frame.
And this could be a reason why present didn't appear as great as it is. Because we compare it with a past made just from memorable moments. Do you agree? Have you experienced the feeling?
2 people like this
9 responses
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
2 Jan 13
I can remember places better then I recall events and I sort of get the time mixed up, but
i do remember something that affected me negatively as well as positively. For instance when I was in my twenties, I went camping along with my unofficial foster parents and when we woke up, there was water all around the tent. Another time, we were at a lake, and all the young people were going water skiing, but when it became my turn, no, they would not let me. I remember fishing and even though there was the prize for the smallest, and my fish was so tiny, I did not get it. I remember babysitting and my father taking my money, so and I could go on, I did remember the bad things as well as the good things. So to me, I have no nostalgia about the past, other then I used to live there, that film was made in Vancouver, not Seattle, I used to live in that neighbourhood, or they did a bad job at making it look like that place is Miami, because that street is obviously Oak Street in Vancouver.
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1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
3 Jan 13
I think with me it is not what happened, but what it represented. When I was not allowed to water ski, it represented that anyone can do something, but I am the only person not allowed to. I do not mean if everyone does something stupid, I should be able to. What I mean is good things, such as what most people expect to do. Also my father taking my babysitting money from me, made me more determined not to get a job until I was on my own. I did have a burn when we were at the Okanagan in my teens. I still remember that. Oh I also remembered when my step sister persuaded me to steal some panty hose, and then went and told the store manager and when her and her brother stole my allowance before that. There was a prom dance on at the school at that time. Yet she was stealing, breaking curfew, got pregnant out of wedlock, but the guy married her. Me I got pregnant, the guy abandoned me and came back to try to make up after I had given the child up for adoption. There was no help for unwed mothers back in the early 60s.
So I will never remember the past with nostalgia only with regret.
1 person likes this
@spicymary (558)
• Romania
3 Jan 13
I also remember bad moments, but when I try to picture a period from my life I skip the small annoying things that made the experience be unpleasant. Bad moments that really affected me, those I can't forget. But, the small ones, kind of distroyed my present in the past. But when I remember that past, I see them as how they really are, as small. Because I am not anymore involved there, I don't take them personally anymore. I hope it makes sense.
Like this year, when I went to the sea. I got really burned and I also had insolation. It was awful. I hardly could move because all my body was hurted. I had fever, so I felt or terrible heat in the day, or severe cold in the night. But I remember this, because it was the discussion about. If someone will ask me about those days, I will faster remember those few moments that were great. It will not bother me anymore the fever and burned skin.
1 person likes this
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
2 Jan 13
I think that what you have said made me realized that no matter how great the past was, still what makes us as us are the compilation of moments from then till now. There may have been great moments before, and bad moments now. But what should be the most important thing to remember is that we become a better person for the future.
1 person likes this
@spicymary (558)
• Romania
3 Jan 13
Past always learns us a lot of things, if we open our eyes to see them. And bad memories are even more important in process of becoming better.
@deiusz (193)
• Indonesia
3 Jan 13
yes, at least we can learned from the past whatever is that, good things, bad things, that's all we need to learn, like dont make the same mistake, do the better from the past.
We can controlled for the future at least not do the same thing at terrible moment in the past, we just try, but can not fully controlled the future, just do the best as we can.
May be we can't remember all things, but we can think from the past for tommorow and what gonna do.
@ctryhnny (3460)
• United States
3 Jan 13
When I start feeling down I try to remember the memorable things in my life but seldom remember the date (I"m 65 I'm lucky to remember anything that happened in my life..lol). I vividly remember the births of my 3 kids but lately get their birthdays mixed up. One of my daughters b/d is April 4, my other daughter Dec. 10 but for some reason I think it was the 19th, my son...I'm still not sure if it's Dec. 3 or 4! Luckily someone will remind me which day it was. I have a lot of good memories spent with my mom but couldn't tell you the date. When I think about it I have a lot of good memories.
@WakeUpKitty (8694)
• Netherlands
2 Jan 13
I can't say my past was better as the present. I would not like anyone to have my past. I think it's kind of true, we do remember moments not days. We also do remember a film, not if we saw it black and white or colour or on a big flat screen or 3d.
1 person likes this
@spicymary (558)
• Romania
3 Jan 13
I agree with you. The meaning is more important than the appearance.
@Mavic123456 (21898)
• Thailand
3 Jan 13
Past is past and everyone should act on the present and look forward to the future. However, time flies as swiftly as it can. In just 24 hours, the present becomes past and future is now present facing again another future. I often wonder, if past is not there will there BR present? And if present will not become past, is future essential? Yes, most of our memories came from past, no memories come from present and future. bad memories still are considered part of the past. Hiding bad memories do not make any sense because there is no way in the world that we can forget the yesterday. We have past so that we can learn from it, we can do same act we have done from the past that resulted favorably. Who would want unsuccessful present and disastrous future of course no one here would want that. For now, present, yesterday's memories were very important to mold the present and shape up the future.
@mayrylflores (173)
• Philippines
2 Jan 13
the happiest moment is the most thing we always remember. Even for a short period of time you and your friends share great experience. Those who make as laugh and those who make us cry. We remember those who give us hope during time we are down.
1 person likes this
@spicymary (558)
• Romania
3 Jan 13
We certainly remember those who were there when we needed it. It is the time when you can see who are your true friends, and who are just friends for having fun and period.
@toyota4k (1208)
• Philippines
3 Jan 13
The past can be remembered by unforgettable moments that were experienced. Whether they be sad or happy moments. The past have taught us many things true to the fact that experience is the best teacher.
@mhaiXCs10s (619)
• Philippines
3 Jan 13
Come to think of it... That famous line really made sense. That's true for some instances. Well, about that the past is kinda more important than the future... I am just into so-so with that. Just in the middle... There are times in the past that really exist in our being and we will never forget because we don't like to. Memories are always part of us and I think we can't face future without any realization from the past, for this past is really important for memories made us stronger and we learn many things from it... But for some point, what matter is the future and not the past for we can make future to what we want it to be. In future there are many choices unlike in the past that we couldn't change what happen. We are all leading into our future and we should be always optimistic... ;)
1 person likes this
