Life's journey
I find it helpful to think of life as a journey. Think of yourself taking a train journey. On the train, there are seats which face forwards and others which face backwards. Which will you choose, a forward facing seat, or a rear facing seat?
If it is a familiar journey that you make all to often, it is quite likely you might choose a rear facing seat. Facing the rear, if you turn and look out the window, the world seems to be rushing by. In reality, of course, the world is stationary and it is you rushing by, but relative to you the world appears to be rushing by. As it rushes by, it is all a blur that is hard to focus on, but if something catches your attention, it is easier to focus on as it recedes into the distance. As to what lies ahead, you rely on your knowledge of the route, but it is hard to turn and face it. If this is a journey to work, perhaps you have a slight dread of where you are going, and you would rather try to enjoy the present moment, maybe with your nose in a good novel. It transports you into some other world, and you are happy to let the real world rush by a blur.
Now instead, imagine that you are a young child, taking that journey for the first time. Which seat will you choose this time? I very much doubt that you will choose to face the rear. You want to face forwards, as you are filled with an excitement and anticipation about what is ahead. Facing forwards, you can focus on what lies ahead when it is still some way off, and if something catches your attention, your eyes are able to maintain that focus as you approach and pass it. Because you are young and your neck is supple, you may even turn to watch it recede into the distance. More likely, you lose interest once you have passed it, and your attention turns to the next thing that is approaching.
Which of the above describes the way you are living your life now? On life's journey, are you sitting in a forward-facing or rear-facing seat?
In my opinion, the older you are, the more likely it is that you live life predominantly in a rear facing seat. As you read through this website, let me encourage you to change places, and to sit in a forward-facing seat.
If it is a familiar journey that you make all to often, it is quite likely you might choose a rear facing seat. Facing the rear, if you turn and look out the window, the world seems to be rushing by. In reality, of course, the world is stationary and it is you rushing by, but relative to you the world appears to be rushing by. As it rushes by, it is all a blur that is hard to focus on, but if something catches your attention, it is easier to focus on as it recedes into the distance. As to what lies ahead, you rely on your knowledge of the route, but it is hard to turn and face it. If this is a journey to work, perhaps you have a slight dread of where you are going, and you would rather try to enjoy the present moment, maybe with your nose in a good novel. It transports you into some other world, and you are happy to let the real world rush by a blur.
Now instead, imagine that you are a young child, taking that journey for the first time. Which seat will you choose this time? I very much doubt that you will choose to face the rear. You want to face forwards, as you are filled with an excitement and anticipation about what is ahead. Facing forwards, you can focus on what lies ahead when it is still some way off, and if something catches your attention, your eyes are able to maintain that focus as you approach and pass it. Because you are young and your neck is supple, you may even turn to watch it recede into the distance. More likely, you lose interest once you have passed it, and your attention turns to the next thing that is approaching.
Which of the above describes the way you are living your life now? On life's journey, are you sitting in a forward-facing or rear-facing seat?
In my opinion, the older you are, the more likely it is that you live life predominantly in a rear facing seat. As you read through this website, let me encourage you to change places, and to sit in a forward-facing seat.