A Future Now Past
Yesterday, while thinking about living backwards, I came across this Wikipedia page which catalogs stories set in the future that is now in the past. Like 1984. It’s clearly past the year 1984, so it’s a story “set in a future now past.”
Or 12 Monkeys––which I’ve been thinking about non-stop since COVID-19 started spreading––in which a virus wipes out humanities in 1996. 2001: A Space Odyssey. Astro Boy. Back to the Future II. Infinite Jest. We’ve lived through their time periods.
There’s some comfort in it. After all, right now my brain is going wild with questions about what the future will be like. I’m writing a story that may or may not come true. The comfort comes from looking down the list and realizing that we’re not ruled by robots (unless you count our mobile devices… we’re sort of ruled by our phones) and the planet’s oceans haven’t been “dissolved due to an atomic experiment.” Small silver linings.
When things feel uncertain, it’s a nice reminder that everything we fear doesn’t actually happen. That’s what I’m telling myself today.
4 comments
My stepdad (now deceased) was a worrier, and he used to say “I know it works when I worry because the things I worry about never come true.” It’s absolutely true that everything we fear doesn’t actually happen.
Thinking of you in these crazy times and grateful that I discovered your blog all those years ago. 😉
This is (oddly?) reassuring. Thanks!
If the things we worry about happen, then that’s the time to worry. If they don’t happen, then our worrying has tortured us needlessly. So don’t worry. (I’m paraphrasing someone’s quote, I think.)
I wish we could do it that easily! But finding comfort wherever we can is great. And this is indeed, as Beth said, oddly reassuring!
I often use Mali’s strategy.
It’s hard to find the line between planning and worry.
Now I’m curious about Infinite Jest. It’s on our bookshelf but I haven’t picked it up. Hmmm….maybe after followers.