It was the best of times, it will be the best of times

There is something oddly satisfying when you advise someone to live in the present. It seems obvious, and the joy of stating the obvious to people is unmatched. Worrying about the past is as useful as expecting a street corner without paan stains. Past is beyond human control as of the 21st century. Similarly, future is yet to come. Letting it affect the present appears to be a lose-lose proposition.

However, after interacting with hundreds of self-proclaimed mental health experts, I have come to realise that it is indeed better to live in the past, or future, basically anything but present.

Present is chaotic. There are just too many issues and everything seems to be breaking. Historically, there has been a general consensus that present is the worst time after the big bang and not many learned people disagree.

Bollywood buffs are sure best movies came out in 60s-70s. The Cricket experts are unanimous in their opinion that best cricket was played in the 70s-90s. It’s widely believed the caste system ended in 1947 and then somehow staged a comeback. Water used to be blue, and air used to be cleaner in the good old days. Community bond was felt and people supported each other. Things were cheap and people ate healthier. There was no degeneracy of the culture either. Administration used to be a smooth well-oiled machinery and corporates prioritised ethical business practices. The people were more beautiful as well, given the potato quality of the photos. Even the reader would reminisce his/her good old days when life was carefree.

Thus, the past has been one of the best times in the recorded and imagined human history. A generation older may suggest that the best of the times was actually in 40s-50s, but the broader point of past supremacy holds strong.

While the past was glorious, future is the beautiful utopia in waiting. Since the 1500s, the future has been advertised as a tech-powered paradise with no inequality. The basic needs of the people would be fulfilled and the civilization would move to higher levels in the Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Marx envisaged a communist utopia; Adam Smith expected the invisible hand to set things right and Musk is sure Mars is the wonderland in waiting.

It is also strongly suspected that future will have good wi-fi, multi-functional humanoids, and a drainage system. With these luxuries, future also presents a strong case to be lived in.

Present, on the other hand, is the worst of the times. We have wars going on. The extremists are finding voices to rally around. Climate change has been affecting everyone. Unemployment is rising. Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi is back again. With this reality, why would anyone want to live in the present? It is the dystopia your favourite ideologue had warned you about.

The present carries the weight of every expectation while still cleaning up the mess left by past presents. It can’t be radically different from the seeds sown, but the mind and expectations aren’t restricted by those realities.

Thus, based on extensive well researched evidence (WhatsApp forwards, barbershop debates, and uncle-level historical analysis), it is empirically proven that the present is the least optimal timeline for human habitation. Anyone insisting on “living in the moment” is clearly delusional or trying to sell you a meditation course. Live boldly in nostalgia or ambition - just don’t stay here. Here is overrated.