DYK, that our vocabulary and speech help to dictate the way our minds work and what we think. Therefore if we did not have words for for the past and things that have already happened we would not be easily or readily able to think about our past. It may sound complicated or unfathomable but it’s true.

This of course got me thinking. What would it be like if none of us had words for the past and none of us could easily or redly think about our pasts. How different of a world would that be. Well, in a way it would cause us to live the way we were meant too, for the here and the now. No dwelling on our past, no holding grudges or judgements about others or ourselves. We would no longer posses ‘reason’ to hate. we would have no reason to feel shitty about ourselves. We would just spend all of our time being here now; moving forward and letting go. Maybe depression as we know it would cease to exist. We wouldn’t remember the injustices we faced as a children or the influences of our yesteryears and maybe we wouldn’t be so susceptible to indulging in crime or deviance. 

Is this one of the problems with the world today? is this causing the hate? Is it causing a mass surge of depression and anxiety. Maybe this is why mindfulness, the practice of being here now, seems to be such winner in depression treatment. Do we today spend too much time living in our heads and not enough time living in the world? Too much time living in the past. Are you actually planning your future… or do you just worry about it? 

I know that your thinking. “But some memories are good and we need to remember them and our mistakes to survive!” Maybe thats true… maybe not, but in no way is that what this article is about. This article is just supposed to get you thinking about how the way we think, as a person and as a society, and how it affects us. Maybe we should forget some of the words we know and learn to live in the world.

Six Feet Under S4E12 “Untitled”

Nathaniel Fisher: You hang on to your pain like it means something. Like it’s worth something. Well, let me tell you - it’s not worth shit. Let it go! Infinite possibilities, and all he can do is whine. 

David Fisher: Well, what am I supposed to do? 

Nathaniel Fisher: What do you think? You can do *anything*, you lucky bastard - you’re alive! What’s a little pain compared to that?

David Fisher: It can’t be that simple. 

Nathaniel Fisher: What if it is?