What is your perspective? Future, Current or Past?

2015-05-23T21:18:01-04:00

What is your perspective? Do you look towards the future, live in the present and current time or reflect and maybe dwell on the past? As a Solider I was always taught the importance of knowing past battles and conflicts, maximizing successes and minimizing failures. As a result, I tended to focus more on the past, with an eye to the future and a toe hold in the present. As a retiree, I find myself more reflective and more fond of relishing old successes. So, what is your perspective: future, current or past?

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made May 23 at 2015 9:18 PM

2015-05-23T21:18:21-04:00

I tend to dwell a lot in the past. Maybe it is a due to my age ...

Response by SSG John Bacon made May 23 at 2015 9:20 PM

2015-05-23T21:20:03-04:00

I think I live in all three states at once. I think about the past, live in the present and place my hope to the future.

Response by SFC Stephen King made May 23 at 2015 9:22 PM

2015-05-23T21:22:48-04:00

Balance is my perspective I know I can only worry about things I can control and everything else I don't worry about.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made May 23 at 2015 9:27 PM

2015-05-23T21:27:42-04:00

It's funny you ask this question. Every day I think of how I could have been better to people I was growing up with, not that I was mean, not at all. I don't think about my career much, the only time I do, its on this site. I think about today which is like every other day. I also think about the future, and it saddens me that I feel I can't win before I die.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2015 9:28 PM

2015-05-23T21:28:42-04:00

I spend a lot of time reflecting on the past and staying busy in the present, all because I am looking towards the future. I am always trying to make a better life for daughter and me...there needs to be perspective from all three.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2015 9:28 PM

2015-05-23T21:28:49-04:00

I look at the past a lot. I love history. I have my bachelors in history. So I spend a lot examining it. But I tend to live my life in the spare if the moment. I don't want life to pass me by, so I try to live it to the fullest- in the present- as I can.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2015 9:41 PM

2015-05-23T21:41:36-04:00

I think it's important to have an equal balance. I think it's important to know where we came from. Also, history has a way of repeating itself. It's important to live in the present and appreciate and not take for granted all that's in front of you. The future, well if you're not looking, working, or at least considering your future, where does that lead you? I think all 3 are equally as important. Although the past is written and we can't change it, hopefully we can learn from it and improve the future.

Response by SGT Kevin McCourt made May 23 at 2015 10:05 PM

2015-05-23T22:05:30-04:00

I've been out 16 years. So the past is always top on my list, Current and future I see everyday. Are mistakes of the past being done again? Yes. I am talking military history. As far as everyday life. I look at the success and failures of the past. They keep me humble and grounded. The drive I need for the future.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made May 23 at 2015 10:35 PM

2015-05-23T22:35:32-04:00

Present. I have this quote that serves me well in this regard.If you are depressed you are living in the past.
If you are anxious you are living in the future.
If you are at peace you are living in the present.
Lao Tzu

Response by SPC David S. made May 23 at 2015 10:54 PM

2015-05-23T22:54:19-04:00

Certainly sir history is a great teacher, however I thinks its good to be rooted in the present. Use the past for guidance in for what we do in the present to get us to the where we want to be.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 23 at 2015 11:20 PM

2015-05-23T23:20:06-04:00

It's my tendency to lean towards the past. I try to live in the present. At the rate were going I don't see the future being too bright, so I try not to think about that too much or I get angry or depressed.

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made May 24 at 2015 12:48 AM

2015-05-24T00:48:32-04:00

All three. I do dwell on certain things in the past, although I don't like too. I live for the present in the sense that short term I very rarely plan things, most of what I do is on the spot "hey, this seems like a god idea" type of stuff. I also consider my future in the long term by having my personal goals.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2015 1:32 AM

2015-05-24T01:32:28-04:00

I live in the present, I have learned from the past to shape the future !
It is hard to compare the current times to the past. The rules and time keep changing. Maybe in the future someone will look back at this time and compare it to some other time . And make sense of it .

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 24 at 2015 1:58 AM

2015-05-24T01:58:46-04:00

I think about past glories and successes, but I also plan and look forward to creating future successes.