I was clearing out some old files last night. I hard drive used for backups, old documents, scrambled writings, a ton of music, and pictures.
Some pictures made me happy. Some nostalgic. Others brought tears to my eyes.
Pictures are snapshots of a moment. Pictures may tell a thousand words, but they hide ten times as many. Because those snapshots of moments aren’t the moment themselves. They are representations. The moment was ephemeral, the snapshot a forgery.
In You Are A Badass, Jennifer Sincero says something like, “Focusing on the past is depression. Focusing on the future is anxiety. Focusing on the present is peace.” (Looking it up, she was quoting Lao Tzu.)
Though wonderful reminders, photos are the past. Even the ones your friends (and occasionally I) post on Facebook and Instagram. Lingering on them will only cause depression.
(The title comes from The Botanist Gin that I was drinking while clearing out folders. If you like gin, I recommend it.)
Michael's Musings 