What do you think before going to sleep, your future or your past?

Philippines
March 24, 2012 3:02am CST
When I was at my teen-age, I used to think of what my future would be. There was no night that I missed fantasizing of being popular, successful and a happy man in the future. Now that I'm about to get old (I'm really not comfortable saying that I'm old), my mind shifted to the reverse gear. I can't stop it from going back to the past. I just can't remember when did it exactly started but most probably, it happened gradually. So that's what I'd like to know. What do you think before going to sleep, your future or your past?
1 person likes this
27 responses
• Waltham, Massachusetts
25 Mar 12
When I go to bed, I think about the past, present, and future. I am going over what happened that day, planning for tomorrow, and trying to put my mind at rest at that moment so I can sleep. I feel as though I think, worry, and stress too much sometimes and wish that I did it less. It would be great to turn our mind off at those times. I spend lots of time thinking. There's no right or wrong but people do what they need to and that's ok.
• Waltham, Massachusetts
29 Mar 12
I agree with you wholeheartedly. Your are so right about that. That's why I think of all three so much including before I go to bed.
• Philippines
29 Mar 12
We really can't avoid thinking of the past. The decisions we make at present are partly base on what we experienced in the past and partly what is our plan for tomorrow. The three are interconnected. This is why I don't buy those claiming that they don't think of the past for they can't do anything to change it. We really can't change it but it has influenced our present a lot.
@babyanna (1216)
• China
25 Mar 12
Hi,9jbas22~ Well,I certainly dreamed about having a wonderful guy in my life when I was younger.Thinking about all the possible ways we would meet,just like in love stories. Right now,I don't really think much before going to sleep.Sometimes I do think about my future.Sometimes I just think about what I should do in the next day.Could say I am living the moment. Have a nice day~ :) Sarah
• Philippines
26 Mar 12
Aahm... Were you able to find that wonderful guy in your dreams? Just joking, though your answer would be appreciated. Thanks for the response and may we live the rest of our years happily and trouble-free.
@babyanna (1216)
• China
26 Mar 12
Hehe,certainly hope so~~~To trouble-free future!
@mouse27 (1155)
• Canada
24 Mar 12
i don't think about the past or the future i think about whats going on that day. the past is the past you can't change it and the future is not here yet and its going to come whether we like it or not.
• Philippines
24 Mar 12
I understand if today you sounded like the past is not important and is not worth thinking. Maybe you're still too young to enjoy reminiscing the past. But I assure you, time will come that you will realize why we are taking photographs of many important occasions. That time when you can't hold back from smiling even at your solitude while scanning your old photo album. We certainly can't change the pasts, but remembering them gives us joy.
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
27 Mar 12
A little bit of the past, a little bit of the future, and a whole lot of the present. There are a lot of times where I just have to focus on the here and the now right in my life. Where it is just something that I have to deal with right now. There are many challenges that the present begins, but there are times where I do dwell right on the past and thing forward to the future. But not all of the time. It is just the present a lot of the time. Then again, our past does tend to go right into the life we live into the present, which helps shape the future. So all of them are worth some thought, to see where we are going. What we would like to do in life. There are times where any number of thoughts are going to be drifting right through my life. It is sometimes a muddled mess right in my mind, with many thoughts, many ideas, and just a lot of things to think about.
• Philippines
27 Mar 12
Very well said. This is the best response I've got, sad that it came a little bit late. The past, the present and the future are interdependent. What we are doing today is the consequence of what we did yesterday with consideration of what we want for tomorrow.
@salma07 (639)
• India
24 Mar 12
i think about that day and what i should do tomorrow. Because present is very important, why should we think about years that have gone and a future that is so uncertain and would never happen. i.e the ideal future where things are perfect and all.. i concentrate on what i did today and what i should do tomorrow that is all that is to it
27 Mar 12
At the moment at lot of my thoughts are about my past; could I have done things differently, what if I'd started dating a different boy? But my mind also looks to the future, what will my children grow up to achieve? My eldest starts College in September, my middle child starts Year 8 and my youngest starts Reception class. There are going to be a lot of changes this year, and unfortunately not all of them for the better.
• Philippines
29 Mar 12
Yes ma'm, that's true to everyone. The past made the person we are now that's why we can't get away from it. The more we age the more the time we spent on thinking about it. But of course the future on which our actions at present depend are not to be neglected. The future is more important and need more time of our thought. But as I've said, the more we age the more time we spent on our past. I think the obvious reason for this is that we have already more past than the remaining future of our life. Just like in my case I am 56, assume that 1 year is the present so I have 55 years of past and could be 24 years of future at the most.
@sylvia13 (1850)
• Nelson Bay, Australia
25 Mar 12
I must have a busy mind, as I don't only thing about the past, but also the present, but especially the future! I admit that I am a curious person, so of course I wonder about what the future will bring, not only to me, but my family too!
• Philippines
27 Mar 12
I'd think of the present because that' the only time we hold.Thinking of the past will inhibit you to live your life normally or you can't move on while thinking of the future makes you anxious.
@bellis716 (4799)
• United States
26 Mar 12
I usually think about the future; what I should prepare for dinner tomorrow; should I weed the garden or the flowerbed; if it rains, should I clean house or start another quilt? You can probably tell that I'm in the same category as you or maybe a little more advanced.
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
18 Apr 12
I think about the past quite often. I have lived many different places and I have had many different jobs, and sometimes I think about old friends and I think about some of the experiences that I had in the past and the places where I have lived. I also think about the future. Sometimes I am worried about the future and I wonder if we will have enough money to stay in the house in the future. At the moment my thoughts about the future are quite positive, and I think a lot about the trip to Asia that are are planning. I am so excited about going to Asia for the first time, because that has been one of my dreams for a long time.
• United States
25 Mar 12
I think of family, friends, mostly the future now since I got older but mostly of all I try to think of God, protection, waking up in the mornings refreshing . I look back and wonder where have all the years gone..as you get older it seem to go by to fast..thinking I do not feel that old. I wonder now how I looked at people my age now as being old when I was younger and would have liked to change alot if I knew what I knew now. I guess alot of people do to. I try to go think of good things but I know it is hard sometimes with alot of problems in this world.. but then I learned I sleep better knowing God is near and I turn things over to him. I know some may not see this way , but comfort and hope and laughter and believeing. is better than no hope at all...so I try to be comfortable by trying to take my mind off the bad and on the good..
@else22 (4317)
• India
26 Mar 12
Circumstances force me to think about my past,present and future.I was born with a silver spoon in my mouth.My childhood was princely.That golden period lasted for years until I became a teenager.Then began the struggles that I have been fighting since then.My brothers parted ways from me,parents expired and I was left alone to fend for myself and my wife. Now when I go to bed,all my past,present and future flash across my mind.I automatically start comparing between my past and present and thinking about future.
• India
26 Mar 12
Before going to sleep, I like to fascinate a lot. I like to think about how my life could be different from the way it is. I day dream a lot. I think it is my escape from a lot that is going on in my life, much of which is unpleasant and hectic. I like talking to my guy right before I drift off, it's very calming. I think about how the future could be different. I think about moments that could happen. It doesn't necessarily mean I have expectations of it, or I'd be disappointed if they don't. I take it as it is, just an escape.
• India
7 Jul 12
I never really fantasized about my future when I was growing up. I always assumed that everything will fall into place and I will end up as successful as my parents. Things did not turn out that way. It turns out you have to work extra hard to get what you want in life. When I go to sleep I think more of tomorrow than the past.
@babystar1 (4233)
• United States
25 Mar 12
I think of all kinds of things.my brain is racing all the time. I think what I am going to do tomorrow, I think about my children that are all grown up. Things go through my head all night long,thats is why I cant never get a good night sleep. When I go to bed my mind starts thinking I cant get to sleep I am wide awake. When I get up in the morning I am so tired I think I only get 2 hours of sleep.
@lynboobsy11 (11343)
• Philippines
24 Mar 12
Normally I don't think too much when I'm about to sleep, that's why I don't lie when I'm not sleepy. I tried to do things to make me sleepy before going to bed. Like here mylotting all night and when I'm tired and sleepy it gives me a good night sleep. Because when I started to think about the future or the past I can't sleep no more that's the problem with me.
@shadjee1 (602)
• Philippines
25 Mar 12
Before I go to sleep, mostly, i think of my future. What my plans and dreams are. But there are times that I also think of the past especially when I had a fight with someone or I had made a mistake. I would wish to go back and correct it.
@kukueye (1759)
• Malaysia
24 Mar 12
I guess i think more about the future , when i sleep like wat to do next day and such , which actually cause me more tension and some lost of few hours of sleep, sometime i prefer to think about the nothing which is better and think about or imaginery stuffs better before sleep like flying an attack copter or fighter plane or in space shuttle and such , something heroic.
@atwilson (540)
• Indonesia
25 Mar 12
Both of them. I want to improve and learn from mistake. Yeah and make planning.
• Indonesia
24 Mar 12
the future, let bygones be bygones. in my opinion the past can't be changes so we should think forward, but if you have time machine you can change your past hahahaahahaha (i'm just kidding).