Insight Axis empowers you with practical philosophy.
I’m Zan - follow me on Substack and X.
Hit play, and read out loud while listening:
Pictures From The Past
When you look back at the year you've had,
Or the life you’ve had,
What do you see?
If you have pictures of joy,
Do you hold on to them so tightly,
That the present fades away?
If you have pictures of regret,
Do you push them out of sight,
Only for them to haunt you more?
If you have pictures of success,
Do you let ego take over,
Forgetting the impermanence everything?
If you have pictures of failure,
Do you wallow in the dumps,
Rather than rising with resolve?
If you have pictures of money,
Do you identify with a number,
Rather than your Self?
If you have pictures of desperation,
Do you harbour hopelessness,
Or use it as fuel for change?
If you have pictures of anxiety,
Do they paralyze you,
Forgetting they also push you to action?
If you have pictures of tragedy,
Do they hold you in a state of grey,
Instead of giving you strength to persevere?
This time of year,
We love looking back.
But we should remember that for us,
Time only flows one way.
Forwards.
So, yes, take the time to reflect,
On whatever pictures you see of the past.
But know that your history holds your power,
To fuel your future potential.
Recommended reading from Substack:
- on not wasting your life.
- on changing agendas.
- on hilarious airport tribulations.
- on paradox and clichés.
- on goalposts for a good life.
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This piece reminds me of that quote by Maya Angelou, (which I may be messing up a bit) which goes (I think):
“You can’t get where your going, if you don’t know where you’ve been.”
Another great piece, Zan.
And thanks for shouting out my airport piece!