The past is gone. Move on.

Do you spend more time thinking about the future or the past? Why?

This is a great question.

There have been times in my life when I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the past. For me, that usually happens when I have regrets. In my mind, I relive what I can’t go back and change.

Sometimes, thoughts of the past are triggered by dreams. I dreamed about my high school sweetheart just last week. We broke up because he was going off to college, and his parents wanted him to date other girls. That dream made me think about how my life would have turned out if we hadn’t broken up. Of course, I will never know what might have been, but I think we both chose a better match.

The past gave me learning experiences. I made mistakes and learned from them. The past gave me precious memories of loved ones who have passed on.

Some of us always look ahead. We plan for the future. What is on my calendar this week? What am I going to work on tomorrow? What bad habits do I want to break?

Today, I spend more of my time thinking about the short-term future. I plan to retire in a couple of months, so I am thinking about how I will transition my responsibilities to my successor.

Where do I see myself in five years? I would like to find another volunteer opportunity, one that my husband and I can do together. I will also be out hiking and birdwatching and enjoying the beauty of nature.

Do I spend a lot of time thinking about my long-term future? No. I am 60 years old. I’ve had a pretty good life. I’ve had good times and bad times. No matter what my future holds on this earth, I know that I will spend eternity in heaven.

I’ve got places to go and things to do.