Live Now, not “Back Then”

Recently, I watched the movie Midnight in Paris, and one theme stayed with me for a long time. The main character, Gil, finds himself in the magical world of the 1920s, surrounded by legendary artists, writers, and musicians. He believes that this period was perfect – better than his own present. But during his adventures, he discovers that even people from this "golden age" dreamed of even earlier times. They longed for the Belle Époque, and those from the Belle Époque might have dreamed of another period. And so, the circle goes on.

This is a perfect metaphor for our own lives. Many of us think that "things were better in the past" – whether it's our own childhood, our parents' youth, or a time we know only from books and movies. We see only the beautiful parts: the style, the music, the slower pace of life. But we often forget the problems, limitations, and uncertainties that people faced back then.

Idealizing the past is natural. It gives us a sense of safety and helps us create a story about where we came from. But the problem starts when we hold onto the past so tightly that we forget to live fully in the present – the only time that truly exists.

Gil's realization that no era is "perfect" is actually liberating. It means the best time can be right now – if we give it a chance. Every era has its charm, but also its shadows. And our present moment has huge potential that we often overlook.

Maybe we should remind ourselves more often: don't search for the perfect time somewhere in the past. Create it here and now. Because one day, even our present will become someone's "golden age."