What's Your Time of Mind?
Thursday, September 17, 2009 at 04:00PM Are you and introvert or an extravert? Are you a Type A or a Type B person? Are you a Thinker or a Feeler?
I love all these ways of measuring and defining the personality, these tests and psychological theories that make us think about our inner nature, our basic frame of mind. But what about our time of mind?
Do you tend to think and feel more in the past, present or future?
If this were a true measure of a personality trait, I would definitely fall into the past. No doubt about it, I am a Past Person.
I am one of those people who revels in nostalgia, memories and history. I do not take easily to change, do not find it exciting and full of promise. It is the past that is comforting and where I prefer to let my emotions run free. I am the type of person that feels something after it has happened. Days, weeks, months and even years later is when I find myself crying about something that I barely reacted to at the time it actually did happen.
The future makes me nervous. I can stir myself into a panic just thinking about something that I have to do tomorrow or next week. But the past is pure comfort and for that reason, I tend to settle there mentally and emotionally.
I started thinking about this the other day when I was on Facebook. It seemed as if each of my friends had a certain tendency when writing their status updates. Some tended to report on what they had done, some tended to report on what they are currently doing and others always reported on what they will be doing. Looking back over their status updates, I could see they usually updated in the same tone. Past, present or future.
Then I started listening more intently to my family around the dinner table. I’d pinpoint our oldest as a Future Person. The excitement in her voice shows up most when she is talking about tomorrow. She is artistic, innovative and ambitious. Mark my words, she will change the world some day because her eyes and heart are so focused on the future, always thinking out of the box. She breezes through today at breakneck speed and never looks back at yesterday.
Other the other hand, our middle one is a Present Person. She can tell you a story and describe everything in such rich detail, that she will put you right there as if you are living it yourself. Because her attention, focus and full emotions are completely with her at all times making her a constant joy to be around. She is literally the life of the party, always full of life and reveling in it at all times.
My husband is the same way, a Present Person. He is one of the most peaceful people I know. He is unmoved and unshaken by what could or might happen, and is never bogged down by the baggage of the past. He lives with complete confidence in the now, the person you want around in a time of crisis.
As for Piper? I am not sure yet, but something tells me she’s a Past Person like myself. We are the quiet and observing ones. The historians, philosophers, writers and archaeologists who spend our mental energy on examining, reflecting and documenting our tracks, protecting them to ensure they are preserved for posterity. While the Present People are the ones we look to entertain us, care for us and inform us. They seem to me more physical and daring too. They are the athletes, tornado chasers, stock brokers, doctors and actors making today’s headlines. They are the types you can barely keep up with, yet alone tie down. And finally, the Future folks are the artists, scientists, politicians and inventors who pave our way. They see what we can’t quite see yet. Forever leading us into the next age, offering us the lastest breakthrough and always pushing us towards a new and improved mindset.
So what do you think? Do you think you have a tendency for a certain “time of mind”? If so, are you a Past, Present or Future person?
P.S. If you do like taking such tests, go visit Bossy. She is having a contest right now to win a HomeGoods certificate and all you have to do to enter is take a test to find out what style you are. I know what your thinking: Bossy, contest, gift certificate AND personality test! I’m twisting your arm, right?
Reader Comments (5)
what a great post. i'd have to admit to being a past person... as much as i'd like to be fully present, i tend to lose myself in analyzing what *has* happened; and rather than relaxing in what *is* happening, i find i analyze that too, in much the same way. guess that's why i'm trained as a therapist ;)
@Mama P: A fellow Past Person! That is probably why we connected at freshman orientation to build a life long friendship! And yet, your paintings and artistic talent are visions into the future. And you are, for sure, a woman who seizes the day (you taught me how to draw down the moon after all). I think, just maybe, you are more than just the Time Traveler's Wife, but the time traveler herself. Passing through, living in all stages and mental time. An aim I suppose we all hope to reach!
I loved this post. I'm a past person definitely. I do not even consider the future. I'm also the archivist in our family (7 of us). When I think back my father was a future person and my mother was a past person. I wouldn't consider any of my sibs as future people, mostly present with a couple of past people.
Your post gave me lots to think about....thanks ;)
future, with a healthy respect for past and present;)
Bossy is sort of a present person, when not looking incessantly backward. Or forward. Oy.