Many people — unfortunately, as adults — primarily look at things in life with (and “as”) the known. They recognize things as what they have seen before. This recognition occurs when the mind habitually sees through a screen (and background) of memory. When memory looks, it looks from the old, stale past. Memory is rooted in the old; it is oldfangled. The past, being old and secondhand, tends to make the mind stale, bored, and lacking in passion (from recognizing the same old things repeatedly).
It may be that a wise mind, however, often looks at life freshly, without merely perceiving through stored, musty images (of what was). When we were young, we glowed with the passion of seeing life without stale (learned) recognitions. Then we were blissful; then we were flowing while not merely recognizing. (When i was biologically young, i told people that i would never grow up.)
Look at life happily, joyfully, blissfully, soaringly, and fresh… without always carrying the oppressive burden of the past.
Tom's Nature-up-close Photography and Mindfulness Blog 
If a person’s life is lived in the rational linear world how in hell could anyone not be depressed with the current horror show involving the human culture and the earth?????? The only way is to engage with the present in a meaningful way – and every time I look at one of your stupendous photographs I disappear into it – this one I went back to again and again – simple wonder precedes all thought. Thank you for this glimpse into timelessness – we are losing so much I am haunted – but the moment I look at one of your photos, a lichen or see a bird – well – you KNOW.
PS – oppressive past – you nail it
Yes, Sara, simple wonder precedes all thought. Thoughts are secondary, shadow-like, residual, fragmentary, and merely symbolic. However, so many people almost exclusively dwell in them and, hence, exist in an artificial (manmade) pseudoworld.
There sure is a lot of disorder in the world these days (largely because of man). But nature is resilient. After this mass extinction, it will bounce back… no doubt. It always does. That’s the magic of nature. 😊
Therein lies our hope Tom. Nature WILL rebirth herself…. 5 extinctions and now the 6th but unless the planet blows up LIFE will go on!
A very very good reminder. Thank you.
Thank you, KingKang 😉… and i hope you don’t have to dial 911 in this crazy/violent world.
So true, beautiful post!
Thank you much, Nicole. 😊
Tom, your insights remind us that life’s beauty unfolds in fresh perspectives, not through the faded lenses of the past. Let’s embrace the world with childlike wonder, shedding the old to live fully in the vibrant now. A true recipe for never-ending youth. Mike
Thanks, Michael. 😊 Yes, an elderly man may be younger than most, if he perceives without the cadaverous burden of memory.
Lend me your hands, worn yet strong,
Unfurl the memories where they belong.
Speak of the times, both bitter and sweet,
A symphony of life, incomplete.
Life is continuously unfolding. There is no way that it must stay.
Yes, indeed, Astrid. 😉 Recollections often are musty symbols/representations.
Those are good words to live by – best to start out fresh and go from there. That an exquisite-looking butterfly Tom. It looks velvety soft. I thought of you today Tom – the poor girl in Georgia enjoying a run in the woods and was killed. I thought of your warnings to me right away. Sad that everything we always did for years becomes to tainted. I am careful, but maybe I have to walk only in open areas.
Thank you, Linda! 😊
I am even apprehensive when out in the wilderness these days. There are too many cookoos out there these days. Please don’t take any chances.
When i was in college, in a psychology class, they told us about experiments with rats. The more crowded they were, the more violence they would engage in. The human population is very large. Be extra cautious.
Thanks Tom … I am rethinking going forward, not straying off the beaten path at all. It’s a shame, but you must be wary every single minute, no matter where you are. A simple trip to the grocery store can turn out badly. That is interesting about the rats – too many humans … we are overwhelming one another.
When we were young, we all thought we were great artists. I wish the self-doubt would never creep in. Lovely Lepidoptera, Tom!