The Past Always Seems Good Because It Has Passed

We often hear elders say that their earlier days were better, even though they lacked the facilities, comforts, and resources that are available today. The past seems pleasant simply because it is past — we only remember it, we do not relive it. If someone endured great hardships while growing up but later achieved success, recalling those difficulties no longer feels painful. Instead, those struggles appear as accomplishments, and the greater the hardship, the greater the achievement seems in memory. Yet during the actual experience, they certainly did not feel enjoyable. What people need to understand is that once a moment has passed, it becomes easier to appreciate it because hardships turn into achievements and pain turns into memory — something that no longer has to be lived through.