Recently I ran across a story written by economist Roger W. Babson that has helped me gain perspective and has reduced some of my concerns about our times today.
"When I find myself depressed over present conditions, I can, within one hour, banish worry and turn myself into a shouting optimist.
Here is how I do it. In enter my library, close my eyes, and walk to certain shelves containing only books on history. With my eyes still shut, I reach for a book, not knowing whether I am picking up Prescott's Conquest of Mexico or Suetonius' Lives of the Twelve Caesars. With my eyes still closed, I open the book at random. I then open my eyes and read for an hour; and the more I read, the more sharply I realize that the world has always been tottering on the brink. The pages of history fairly shriek with the tragic tales of war, famine, poverty, pestilence, and man's inhumanity to man. After reading history for an hour, I realize that bad as conditions are now, they are infinitely better than they used to be. This enables me to see and face my present troubles in their proper perspective as well as to realize that the world as a whole is constantly growing better."
Babson passed away in 1967 at the age of 91 and this story was likely written during the time of World War II.
In memory of where the World Trade Center Towers once stood.
A testament to the resilience of humankind.
I believe the point of this story was to point out that humankind has issues and if history is an indication of the future, humankind will continue on and worrying about what will happen in the future (including tomorrow) is a waste of time and energy.
Gerald Trees
Musings And Observations Of An Adventurous Life Seeker
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