Future’s Past
“The future has an ancient heart”
Carlo Levi
I love the show Wild N Out1. If you’re not familiar, it has 2 teams of rappers and comedians playing stupid games to roast one another or to simply be funny. There’s lots of games I love but the one I cherish the most is called Wildstyle, which is a game of roasting one another with a form of insult poetry.
Anyways, there is a comedian on there named Michael Blackson. And one time, he put down a guy on the other team by saying, “This guy has no bank account. This is how he transfers money from his savings to his checking” while moving his hand from his left pants pocket to his right. I lose it every time I see it. I love a good insult (maybe I’m heartless) but there are things in you that those closest to you know and they can dig it out of you.2
As the above quote says, “the future has an ancient heart.” Or as one writer translated this, “who we become is born of who we most primitively are.”3
There are things in our future that can only be discovered if we look at our past. There are things you did as a kid that you should be doing in your future because those are the things that most make you come alive. And there are people who can help you see more clearly who you were all along. And to connect the narrative here, these are usually the same people who know you the best and can joke with you and give you a hard time but call you out lovingly.
One of my favorite memories from growing up was when I was in the third grade. We wrote a book, designed the cover, and drew the illustrations. I chose to write about a famous NASCAR driver trying to win a race. Although I have no idea where the story came from4, I do remember the accomplishment. I remember reading it out loud to the class and showing everyone what I made. I remember the passion that came into my life from that moment on. This moment will always stick with me.
And I believe that’s why writing means so much to me. Because it is something in my future that was started in my past. It is a connection to my childhood that lies deep within me. And it is something that others have spoken over me for years now.
Today’s challenge:
Find what has been in your past all along and work your way with it into your future.
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1 There are too many clips that I could point to about Wild N Out and specifically the game Wildstyle but seriously find yourself some time and check out some clips (specifically, some by Kevin Hart, Katt Williams, and so many more)!
2 Another great insult from Michael Blackson was when he said this to another one competitor “You look like Future’s past.” That phrasing was the original inspiration for this post. But the other one is funnier!
3 **I first heard this quote here - http://therumpus.net/2011/05/dear-sugar-the-rumpus-advice-column-72-the-
4 I don’t really enjoy the game of NASCAR and I refuse to call something a sport if you can piss on yourself while sitting in a chair taking only left turns. Of course, I kid and only say this to frustrate my friends who love NASCAR.
