Past, Future and The Present

Sometimes I contemplate, why is that we always seem to underestimate and discredit our “present” and crib about it not being up to our intuition and presupposition. Why “past” brings nostalgia while “future” hopes and promises but “present” always seems like a stage we want to get over as soon as possible. It’s not the first time when I am asking this question to myself. It is something that has been rattling and shaking my conscience for quiet a while.

As an infant I was so shocked and surprised of my existence that I didn’t speak/talk for a year and half. I didn’t have any past to compare but a hopeful future to look forward to. But the present was confusing with people around, making weird faces and thinking the kid is enjoying. I wanted to tell them “puleezzz get a life”.

As I grew up a little, I thought being a school going kid is the most disadvantageous position as one gotta bear the burden of studies and also be accountable to teachers in school and parents at home (I loved telling them how much I hate studies). That time I wished I were still an infant. But a bright future of college life ahead and hope of a girlfriend kept me going.

Then came the college life and I was all excited. I must confess that’s the only stage I didn’t feel nostalgic about my past. But the overexcitement of what seemed at that time a “promising future” took toll and I lost things one after another. My urgency to move out of that stage made me blind to precious possessions I had. I ignored them and as a result I lost people I loved most. Again I was excited about my new venture into corporate world, oblivious of the fact that it’s a trade off that I will face soon.

This was the real awakening when I realized the futility of past and future. Past can only bring moments of sadness and occasional happiness. Future nobody has seen and is uncertain. Present is real and that is where life is. At this stage when I have no rosy future to look forward to and no hopes, no promises from time to come that I realized the importance of Present.

Yesterday is history,
Tomorrow is mystery,
And today? Today is a gift,
That’s why we call it The Present.