As of late, I've really felt inclined to steal Demetri Martin jokes. I'm not claiming them as my own, and it's my way of having inside jokes (so to speak) with people who are aware of his genius. I think of it more as "spreading the gospel of Demetri." If you don't know about him, I'll give you a little heads-up. He's a genius--literally. Earned his undergrad from Yale and endured 2 years of Law school at NYU on a full scholarship... unfortunately he didn't stick it out for one more year, but that's his deal.
If you know of him, I recommend his "If I" series that can be found on youtube. It's surprisingly (and refreshingly) insightful and very enlightening. He's so real that I can think of a joke for almost every situation I'm in.
The title comes from a very famous quote by Aristotle. It's so true. Lately, I've been rather introspective and identifying things in my life that I do well and other stuff that I need to work on. I've been frustrated with some of the ways I've been acting, prompting me to make a list of all my faults. Don't worry! I'm not going to list them. They are for my eyes only.
But one that I felt was very important to note was my longing for the past. To change outcomes from certain past situations and experiences. Allow me to illustrate this notion: If I had one superpower, it would be life like TiVo. I have no interest advancing quickly into the future (heck, I don't want to grow up at all!), and so, like TiVo, you can't skip ahead in the regularly scheduled programming--you just have to wait. However, I'd love to go back in time, right wrongs, and be able to see the results today--without having to relive every single moment of your life over again. I've done great things and have enjoyed my life, but there are nagging things that I wish didn't happen--like my whole hamstring tear. But that's a dead horse and, quite frankly, I'm tired of talking about it.
This wouldn't be an ordinary time machine. I want to relive my moments, not be some 3rd person standby watching myself make these mistakes. And then just skip ahead to modern time and reap the benefits.
Don't you wish life was that easy?
We make mistakes for a reason--mostly to learn lessons. Actually, I think that's the only reason, but I'm still a kid and have much to learn. Later in life we'll have all this empirical knowledge stored up that will contribute to fine decision-making and general well-being. Mistakes are just a part of maturation. But the results from such mistakes suck! I haven't been able to run consistantly for 8 months!
I think we all live for the past and it's something that we just have to work to get over. There are no magical time machines or TiVo buttons for our lives, so you just have to play with the cards you are dealt. Learn from past mistakes and apply it in the present. Make the most of what you have today. Moreover, you shouldn't worry about the future; just make sure you do your best now. Everything you do now will affect you later in life. Trust me.
We all have regrets, but it's better to look back on your life and ask yourself: "Why did I do that?" rather than "Why didn't I do that."
Monday, January 12, 2009
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