What an idiot I was!

Undertoad · 09-13-2018, 11:22 AM

When I was 16 years old, I thought about the person I was at age 14; and the 16-year-old me thought, what an idiot I was back then.

16-year-old me knew everything 14-year-old me didn't understand. (But 16-year-old me didn't know what he didn't know. Which was tons.)

This has gone on my whole life. I'm 54 now, and I look back at me at 45 and I think, damn, wow, what a fuckup.

But I know, 45 looks at 35, and says, oh, the things you don't know. Oh, the pain you are due!

35 looks at 25, and says, wow, what made you think you were special? You were mentally ill.

Everybody, or just me?

fargon · 09-13-2018, 11:25 AM

Me Too. I'm still not as smart as I think I am.

glatt · 09-13-2018, 11:49 AM

I dunno. I few years ago I found my old college work in a trunk and I read a paper I wrote in college. I was smart then. Now I say things like "I dunno."

xoxoxoBruce · 09-13-2018, 12:49 PM

Life is a continual learning process for most people, just when you've pretty much got a handle on it the reaper knocks.
Maybe you can take that knowledge to the next life and be the wisest Dung Beetle on the heap.

Gravdigr · 09-13-2018, 03:48 PM

I try very hard to not look back.

It's quite depressing.

glatt · 09-13-2018, 03:57 PM

That's actually a pretty healthy attitude. Mindfulness. Focus on being present in the now. The past doesn't exist, and neither does the future. We are always in the now.

xoxoxoBruce · 09-13-2018, 03:58 PM

♫ Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow
♪ Don’t stop, it’ll soon be here
♫ It’ll be better than before
♪ Yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone

Flint · 09-13-2018, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

♫ Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow
♪ Don’t stop, it’ll soon be here
♫ It’ll be better than before
♪ Yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone

I could play this song all night. It gets asses on the dance floor, too.

Flint · 09-13-2018, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glatt

Mindfulness. Focus on being present in the now. The past doesn't exist, and neither does the future. We are always in the now.

Hard to practice, to "unlearn" the industrial-style culture we're immersed in. Activities that allow your mind to "zone out" are very restorative. YouTube has some great meditation videos-- 8 hours of ambient music set to a tie-dye type kaleidoscope. Great for "tuning out."

Clodfobble · 09-13-2018, 04:46 PM

I think it's a good thing to look back and say, "what an idiot." It means you've improved, and should be proud. The real trick is extending forgiveness to the other 25, and 35, and 85-year-olds you meet everyday, knowing that they, too, will agree with you someday that they were being an idiot just then.

Griff · 09-13-2018, 05:35 PM

Me too, but I may just be getting dumber.

Gravdigr · 09-14-2018, 01:13 PM

I used to could spell.

Now, I write/type out a word and look at it, and say to myself, "That doesn't look right."

Then, I look it up, and I was right.

The older I get, the less sure I am.

Clodfobble · 09-14-2018, 01:38 PM

If I don't get enough sleep, I can no longer think of the words I want. Basic words, not SAT words. Anything less than 8-9 hours, and I become a moron.

Flint · 09-14-2018, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

If I don't get enough sleep, I can no longer think of the words I want. Basic words, not SAT words. Anything less than 8-9 hours, and I become a moron.

Same. I never get enough sleep due to stress, insomnia, hectic schedule, and I've been a ƒucking useless zombie for like 6 months.

In all honesty I've been deeply troubled that I can't seem to regain the level of executive function I had as recently as 2013-- a time when, notably, I was capable of maintaining functioning filters/rules/categories on my personal email account.

I think lack of regular cardiovascular exercise is another culprit.

I'm stupid now. I have occasional insights, spontaneously able to make a contribution to society in a way that is completely beyond my control.

I don't read anymore.

I have to turn this around soon, or I'm heading to early dementia.

sexobon · 09-14-2018, 06:36 PM

One of my old business cards. I used to be able do ALL that stuff. Sorry to say, I'm no longer up to the task of castrating alligators.

Name: Business Card.jpg
Views: 507
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Name: Business Card.jpg
Views: 507
Size: 43.2 KB

On top of that I used to be cute. Now, I merely look distinguished. Life is cruel.

Anyways, I just wanted to say that all of you old people give me the creeps.

09-13-2018, 11:22 AM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	What an idiot I was! When I was 16 years old, I thought about the person I was at age 14; and the 16-year-old me thought, what an idiot I was back then. 16-year-old me knew everything 14-year-old me didn't understand. (But 16-year-old me didn't know what he didn't know. Which was tons.) This has gone on my whole life. I'm 54 now, and I look back at me at 45 and I think, damn, wow, what a fuckup. But I know, 45 looks at 35, and says, oh, the things you don't know. Oh, the pain you are due! 35 looks at 25, and says, wow, what made you think you were special? You were mentally ill. Everybody, or just me?

09-13-2018, 11:25 AM	#2
fargon Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: La Crosse, WI Posts: 8,924	Me Too. I'm still not as smart as I think I am. __________________ Annoy the ones that ignore you!!! I live a blessed life I Love my Country, I Fear the Government!!! Heavily medicated for the good of mankind.

09-13-2018, 12:49 PM	#4
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Life is a continual learning process for most people, just when you've pretty much got a handle on it the reaper knocks. Maybe you can take that knowledge to the next life and be the wisest Dung Beetle on the heap. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

09-13-2018, 03:48 PM	#5
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	I try very hard to not look back. It's quite depressing. __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

09-13-2018, 03:58 PM	#7
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	♫ Don’t stop thinking about tomorrow ♪ Don’t stop, it’ll soon be here ♫ It’ll be better than before ♪ Yesterday’s gone, yesterday’s gone __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

09-13-2018, 11:49 AM	#3
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	I dunno. I few years ago I found my old college work in a trunk and I read a paper I wrote in college. I was smart then. Now I say things like "I dunno."

09-13-2018, 03:57 PM	#6
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	That's actually a pretty healthy attitude. Mindfulness. Focus on being present in the now. The past doesn't exist, and neither does the future. We are always in the now.

09-13-2018, 04:46 PM	#10
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	I think it's a good thing to look back and say, "what an idiot." It means you've improved, and should be proud. The real trick is extending forgiveness to the other 25, and 35, and 85-year-olds you meet everyday, knowing that they, too, will agree with you someday that they were being an idiot just then. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

09-13-2018, 05:35 PM	#11
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Me too, but I may just be getting dumber. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

09-14-2018, 01:13 PM	#12
Gravdigr The Un-Tuckian Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: South Central...KY that is Posts: 39,517	I used to could spell. Now, I write/type out a word and look at it, and say to myself, "That doesn't look right." Then, I look it up, and I was right. The older I get, the less sure I am. __________________ These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA, EPA, FBI, DEA, CDC, or FDIC. These statements are not intended to diagnose, cause, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. If you feel you have been harmed/offended by, or, disagree with any of the above statements or images, please feel free to fuck right off.

09-14-2018, 01:38 PM	#13
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	If I don't get enough sleep, I can no longer think of the words I want. Basic words, not SAT words. Anything less than 8-9 hours, and I become a moron. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

09-14-2018, 06:36 PM	#15
sexobon I love it when a plan comes together. Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 9,793	One of my old business cards. I used to be able do ALL that stuff. Sorry to say, I'm no longer up to the task of castrating alligators. On top of that I used to be cute. Now, I merely look distinguished. Life is cruel. Anyways, I just wanted to say that all of you old people give me the creeps.

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