Stories of the Past

I have always been fascinated with the stories of the past. Like some of you, I thought that perhaps I was born in the wrong era. Well recently, I read a book about the early followers of Jesus in the Roman times. I imagined walking in those days. I suppose the daily life back then was simpler or less complicated and people weren’t as confused.

Although you may argue that the Roman Empire is guilty of suppressing and persecuting the early Christians. Well, that is rational and you are right. But what I mean to say is, way before the digital era, people were more laidback, lovers of wisdom and knowledge yet were strong enough to go to wars. But you see, soaking in and imagining the stories of the past is all I can do, and I despise wars. 

The Roman poet, Ovid once said,

“Let others praise ancient times

I am glad I was born in these”

How boastful of Ovid. But he has all the right to be so. Ovid lived during the time when Rome was prospering under the emperor Augustus. And we learned how the Roman empire paved way for modern technologies – sewer and complex road system, news publishing, to name a few.  However, you may do some readings on Ovid and Augustus like, who hates who. Just so you can avoid naming your future kids one. 

Then also recently, a local TV drama fantasy series in the Philippines suddenly became a hit during its first few episodes. People got hooked and were so amused that the show kept trending on Twitter. The story revolved around a Gen Z college girl, Klay, who got magically transported into the novel she was reading. The novel, Noli Me Tangere, was written by Dr. Jose P. Rizal during Spanish colonization in the Philippines in 1887.

Photo from: https://gmaworldwide.tv/mcaii/

Noli Me Tangere is a novel required to be read by all high school students in the Philippines. It’s no surprise that the show sparked interest and refreshed the Filipinos’ memory of the national epic. It is both entertaining and educational. 

Photo from: The National Library of the Philippines Facebook page

One funny episode in the TV series was how Klay just discovered that Filipino women in the Spanish era didn’t wear bra. We didn’t know our ancestors never wore underwear. But back then, women dressed properly. In fact, Maria Clara one of the prominent characters in the novel became the eponym of a traditional Filipina dress. The dress is a multi-piece ensemble representing traditional, feminine, modest Filipina. 

With all these pieces of information of the past, everyone realized how things have drastically changed - clothing, technology, and even language. Yet sadly, some social issues are unceasing like misogyny, unfair labor practices and unequal access to better education.

WHAT NOW?

Instead of flaking out to wishful thinking, let’s rather celebrate our rich history and be grateful for the liberation that we now enjoy. As Filipinos, we are no longer under a colony. As Christians, we are more than free to practice our faith. You see, while we are thinking about all these ancient times, we are becoming oblivious of the fact that we are in the present. And we ought to live in the present. And we are supposed to be moving forward. 

So, how then can we live in the present?

1. Learn from the past

We can never change what happened in the past especially the ugly ones, but we always have the choice not to repeatedly make poor decisions. Let your past become your pedestal not your stumbling block. But take it easy. Letting go takes time and totally differs from one person to another. You may write about a certain situation in the past that has haunted you for many years. Read it again and again until the pain of yesterday no longer consumes you.

2. Be more grateful of the present

The mere fact that you are still able to wake up should be enough to make you pause and appreciate life. Sometimes, we tend to dread the mornings or maybe just Monday morning? Since I heard of Monday blues, I tried to fight it with a Monday mantra. I tell myself, "Thank God It's Monday!" Look around and don't let the day pass without being thankful. Remember the coffee ad slogan, "Para kanino ka bumabangon?"  or in English, "Who do you get up (wake up) for?" 

3. Stop worrying about the future

Worrying about tomorrow doesn’t solve problems. Settle with the truth that you have no control of what the future brings. When Jesus prayed, he did not ask God the Father to supply him his needs for the next day. Instead, Jesus said,

“… give us our daily bread.”

Matthew 6:11 

“Life is divided into three terms - that which was, which is, and which will be. Let us learn from the past to profit by the present, and from the present, to live better in the future.”

- William Wordsworth

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RESOURCES:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mar%C3%ADa_Clara

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noli_Me_T%C3%A1ngere_(novel)

http://sightseeingfoodie.com/10-influential-achievements-of-the-romans/