Search for Shangri-LA

Nostalgia is, for me at least, one of the most baffling concepts. Why do people crave for a time that has come and gone? Are we not constantly developing and evolving for the better? Many would say no. Change is undeniable and will never end, many of the problems in the world today can only be resolved if we move forwards, not backwards. We need new ideas, new technologies, new ways of doing things. Often we will change how we do something as soon as an easier or more efficient method becomes readily available, this is only natural. I find it alien that some people would rather live in the 1990s or the 1950s, and if really faced with the option, I doubt that many would actually give up the comforts and benefits of modern living. Some certainly would, of course; but have we not held on to many of beautiful things humans have created and discovered over time, we don’t give them up for no reason. Looking at the election of Trump, Brexit and many other major political changes around the world it is clear that we are approaching a time of change. These things may be good or bad, depending on who you ask. This blog is not used for political propaganda and so I will withhold personal opinion at this time, but it is undeniable revolution is long overdue. Looking at human history, we can see a pattern of social movements towards the end of each century. We live in a time where change is accelerated, the technological revolution has had impact like nothing before it. It would be futile to try and put the genie back in the bottle, we cannot stop the tides of change but we can certainly manoeuvre them. None of us can predict the future and the uncertainty can be daunting, but I don’t think we should let this fear leave us craving a past that is gone. We have the power to dictate which direction our species moves in. It is in all of our hands. The future can be better than the past, the future can be better than right now. It could get worse, but the chances of that are far lower if more of us look forwards and not behind us.