Do you ever hear that term? I used to hear it, a lot, back in the good ol—wait a minute. Anyway, I used to hear people say that term where I work, and worked. I don’t hear that expression much anymore. In fact, can’t remember the last time I heard it used.
The reason I don’t use it is because I don’t dwell much on the past—that’s probably an understatement. People that know me know that, not only don’t I dwell on the past, I am barely present in the present; my head, and at least one foot, are definitely in the future—for better or worse.
In fact, the only time I recall ever using the expression
was in jest; we would simply use the acronym, “the G-O-D”.
[That photo is me in the G-O-D, about 20-years ago. Oh the stories I could tell…]
This all came up recently because Matt O’Keefe and I were approached by a writer interested in interviewing us about the Boston bike scene from 20+ years ago.
It got me thinking about all the crazy work—and work avoidance—we did back then. And it struck me how neither Matt nor I referred to any of it as, ‘the good old days’ regardless that those days were pretty amazing, very formative, and I even used to ride back then.
I didn’t long for those days. I thought, instead, about all the work we are
doing right now that will be memorable 20-years from now.
The view from the crow’s-nest where I work, today
will be the good old days, some day. I
think what’s happening right now are the coolest happenings. That’s why, at work, I don’t hear that
expression much anymore—today is way better than the old days!
I’m not saying that the past isn’t good, or old, or day-like. I just don’t string the words together in that order; it’s just not the way I am wired. At the same time, I definitely understand and agree with Santayana's Aphorism on Repetitive Consequences:
"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."
So, I remember the past—when prompted—I just don’t covet. I hope Santayana would not condemn me for that delineation.
Do you think today or yesterday is better?
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