Now, some of these phrases on Duolingo that I translate are rather peculiar or out of the blue. I've seen phrases in German with meanings such as "the vegetarian does not like me" or "I am playing with both the cups," which I guess has limited context... somewhere. One phrase I came across this morning however is especially prophetic to me.
"Wir haben eine Zukunft!"
Or, we have a future. Like yesterday's post, this really fits the current events of most of my peers, especially this year's graduating class. Holy shit, the past is gone, we have a future! There's so much we can do! No ceiling! There's... still shit to worry about.
Now, I have no right to say that I can be the voice of all the doubts that this year's graduates have, and I'm not going to pretend. But I've spoken about the future before, and I think I can voice general adolescent struggles. And I'm pretty damn certain that I can speak for myself.
We fear the future. It's full of problems we don't foresee and (GASP!) change! It's hard to break our routines we have now, and we aren't all prepared to make new ones in the future. These are all universal fears of the future, and they always seem to be a counterpart to a good thing we imagine in the future. Damn parasites.
Yeah, I could keep moaning about all this. But, frankly, I've already bitched enough about how much my future isn't going to be all rainbows and glitterfarts.
I'm convinced now that the real reason we panic so damn much about the future is that we still have unfinished business in the present before we can move on. Hard to believe, I know, since the present seems to be the popular kid that everyone likes among all the other verb tenses (I mean, he's just too perfect sometimes). But isn't there something you feel like you can't move past?
(Rhetorical question time)
Have you not gotten opportunities to pursue your passions or do new things that stand out from the rest? Got something about yourself that you rather wish you could alter but can't commit yourself to it? Have friendships gone cold? Oh, and don't get me started on separation anxiety?
(End rhetorical question time)
Those are all present issues. And if something don't get finished in the present, it's an easy reflex to worry it ain't gonna get done in the future. It's a fear that hits us bluntly in large masses when we least expect it. It's something that fogs our minds too much to fathom solutions. Really, it just sucks major balls.
After witnessing graduation yesterday, my mind was clear for a while, but I got hit by these worries pretty hard when I was sitting alone in my castle of solidarity (a nonsensical phrase that means "my bedroom" in this context). So many people I ain't gonna be seeing as much in the future, regretting all the things I didn't do, worries about all the buried relationships I have, pressure about future tasks, all that jazz, I'll save you the complaining. I've always been apprehensive about my relationships with other human beings, and I think that won't change.
So, I guess I got to offer some solution. I find that it's impossible to prevent pangs of paranoia, but the best thing you can do is find a way to air your grievances and let them slide by a bit, but I'm no counselor. I do believe, however, that it is inherently stupid to regret something you didn't do. It's like assuming that you're driving your waiter into poverty after you realize that you forgot to leave a tip.
The best thing to do is trust that shit's gonna work out and just let time carry you on. Don't pressure yourself to take action unless you have a clear head and feel like you can advance yourself. And believe me, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, or whatever universal being is present to you, can make shit work out.
In the meantime, take a few words from that other Holy Trinity that is Geddy, Alex, and Neil, about flying through life.
In the words of the obscure phrases on Duolingo:
Now, I have no right to say that I can be the voice of all the doubts that this year's graduates have, and I'm not going to pretend. But I've spoken about the future before, and I think I can voice general adolescent struggles. And I'm pretty damn certain that I can speak for myself.
We fear the future. It's full of problems we don't foresee and (GASP!) change! It's hard to break our routines we have now, and we aren't all prepared to make new ones in the future. These are all universal fears of the future, and they always seem to be a counterpart to a good thing we imagine in the future. Damn parasites.
Yeah, I could keep moaning about all this. But, frankly, I've already bitched enough about how much my future isn't going to be all rainbows and glitterfarts.
I'm convinced now that the real reason we panic so damn much about the future is that we still have unfinished business in the present before we can move on. Hard to believe, I know, since the present seems to be the popular kid that everyone likes among all the other verb tenses (I mean, he's just too perfect sometimes). But isn't there something you feel like you can't move past?
(Rhetorical question time)
Have you not gotten opportunities to pursue your passions or do new things that stand out from the rest? Got something about yourself that you rather wish you could alter but can't commit yourself to it? Have friendships gone cold? Oh, and don't get me started on separation anxiety?
(End rhetorical question time)
Those are all present issues. And if something don't get finished in the present, it's an easy reflex to worry it ain't gonna get done in the future. It's a fear that hits us bluntly in large masses when we least expect it. It's something that fogs our minds too much to fathom solutions. Really, it just sucks major balls.
After witnessing graduation yesterday, my mind was clear for a while, but I got hit by these worries pretty hard when I was sitting alone in my castle of solidarity (a nonsensical phrase that means "my bedroom" in this context). So many people I ain't gonna be seeing as much in the future, regretting all the things I didn't do, worries about all the buried relationships I have, pressure about future tasks, all that jazz, I'll save you the complaining. I've always been apprehensive about my relationships with other human beings, and I think that won't change.
So, I guess I got to offer some solution. I find that it's impossible to prevent pangs of paranoia, but the best thing you can do is find a way to air your grievances and let them slide by a bit, but I'm no counselor. I do believe, however, that it is inherently stupid to regret something you didn't do. It's like assuming that you're driving your waiter into poverty after you realize that you forgot to leave a tip.
The best thing to do is trust that shit's gonna work out and just let time carry you on. Don't pressure yourself to take action unless you have a clear head and feel like you can advance yourself. And believe me, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, or whatever universal being is present to you, can make shit work out.
In the words of the obscure phrases on Duolingo:
Auf eure Zukunft!
Morgen Hays, signing off.
Morgen Hays, signing off.
No comments:
Post a Comment