History

At some point we all have been required to study some form of history. Most find it boring and invariably a complaint will be lodged by a student yawning in the back of class, “Why do we study history? It has nothing to do with my life now”. The answer given by the teacher is always the same. “History repeats itself. We study history to learn from the past so we will not repeat the same mistakes in the future.” This reasoning is generic and cliché, but it is valid. The study of history reveals unmistakable patterns of success and failure. On a large scale, civilizations and societies have flourished and then deteriorated for many of the same reasons. The world and its citizens would be in such a better place if more people would understand and pay a little homage to the past. History is filled with accounts of greed and decadence, war-based solutions, exclusion and persecution based on physical appearance and skin color, exploitation of power, societies controlled by propaganda and ruled by force. These conditions and motivators have all been central to the demise of cultures, countries, and empires and yet they all universally exist throughout the world today. It has been said that insanity is the repeating of a behavior with the expectation of a different result. The study of history exposes governmental, institutional, and cultural insanity and it can be the foundation for future cures.

The world we live in is fraught with problems, some of which threaten the very existence of human kind. I have attempted, through my writing, to expose and offer my solutions to some of these maladies. When I take on a problem and voice my opinion it is important to the strength of my argument to articulate historical reference. In conjunction with history I always tried and integrate some personal story or experience to create a philosophical connection to the common existence of collective humanity. However, this essay is not an attempt to point out global problems or solutions. This essay is attempt to illuminate the power of history in quest for personal actualization; the ability for each of us, through the study of our own individual histories, to positively impact our own lives and the world.

There are some who have questioned my constant use of personal historical references. More than one person has suggested that I dwell in my past. Some probably believe that my stories are either fabrications or at least an embellishment of the facts to better support my views. Many have expressed wonderment in the amount of stories that I have about so many diverse topics and my ability to remember them with repetitive recall. There is no doubt that I have a strong memory and that my life has been full of many diverse experiences. It is equally true that I tell many stories to bolster my opinions. But I do not live in my past, I use my past. I believe that the honest study of my life will help guide me to a better personal future. I have always tried to engage in unabridged introspection of my past ideas and actions. By doing so I can ferret out the strengths and weaknesses in my life approach and use that knowledge to improve my future behaviors. My stories are my history, the good and the bad, the proud and the embarrassing, specific and truthful. Ultimately the study of my past produces strong and defining opportunities for self improvement.

When the past is denied or disregarded and each moment of life is approached as if it were the first, valuable knowledge is lost. There are many who shun the past and refuse to see personal patterns of destructive behavior. Some will hide failings with rationalization while others will look to religion for retroactive cleansing of what they believe to be unavoidable sin. There are those who believe the word “sorry” is an out-of-jail free card to be used to remove guilt and culpability, but without a heart-felt admission of transgression they are doomed to be repeat offenders. Finally there are those who live life as a perpetual victim of the world that they believe is responsible for their weaknesses and failures. Those who use these excuses for a flawed life in the present need to open their eyes to the past, specifically their own past, to find the reasons and motivations for their current behaviors. This level of introspection should not be seen as a way to punish or degrade oneself but as a guide to a better personal future.

At some point we all seek the advice of someone older or more experienced than ourselves. In doing so, we are asking them to share their past to help us better define our present and to expand our future. Our future, the future of the world, lies in the understanding and application of knowledge acquired in the past. The honest acceptance of the past is essential to personal growth. In an individual life, history starts yesterday and travels all the way back to the moment of birth. That expanse of time, from the then to the now, is the creator of your unique toolbox for the future. Those tools in your box, if recognized and utilized, can almost guarantee that tomorrow will be better than today.