I Feel Like I Should Be Living In Another Time

Have you ever felt drawn to a certain period in time, not of your own life? Are you obsessed with medieval times or maybe the Renaissance era? Your not alone if you answered yes to this questioning. From medieval enthusiasts to Civil War buffs, you are in good company. Why do we find ourselves drawn to other time periods though and how often do we wish we were living in these periods rather than the here and now? For me, its very often. I long for times when the economy wasn't a nightmare, when we had more freedoms and when material possessions were more sturdy and beautiful. If given the option, I would choose the Victorian era or ancient Rome as my time periods simply because of the beauty of architecture and the simple pleasures afforded. Of course, I would choose to be wealthy, I mean who wouldn't? Right?

Many have offered up explanations for these obsessions with differing time periods throughout the years. Some believe we are remembering past lives in which we were more comfortable. Longing for what we once had in an uncertain world. Others state that we are simply wishing for what our ancestors had. Riches or a lifestyle lost as generation upon generation produced our current family. Lastly, some believe its just because history is of great interest to everyone, sparking imagination and desire with each era studied. Whatever the reason, the fact remains, its hard to find one person who does not have some interest in a certain period of time here on Earth. Some even take it to the point of participating in war reenactments or Renaissance fairs to help fulfill their desire to be part of these eras, in present times. To these people, its not all just fun and games but a rewarding guilty pleasure that fills a gap they feel in life.

We all know the stresses of today's hustle and bustle society. Work, family, bills and the strive to create success for yourself are all part of what makes us tick. It seems as bills get higher, pay gets lower and we find constant struggle to keep a household going and avoid foreclosure on our homes or repossession of our vehicles. No wonder we yearn for simpler times. As humans, we have created complexity where none should exist and made living more of a chore instead of a pleasure. Yes, we humans can take any good thing and fudge it up in the long run. Maybe its ingrained in our DNA to do so. Who knows. I have often considered living a simple life in this time period much like our forefathers did, to alleviate stresses but lets face it, electricity and telephone are valuable commodities now. Its not like we have doctors that visit your home and provide medical service for payment by chicken, nor do we have horse and buggy in every town as means of transportation with no worry of gas prices or mechanics. Its a totally different world.

Its funny how with our progress as a society, we have gone from being excited over the advances to bored, wanting to go back to the way it used to be. Have we finally come to regret life and choices or are we just simply needing more excitement in our lives? I think the answer to that is up to each individual, and does not cover everyone as a whole. We are a mixed society, with some desiring more advancement and others desiring simple times. The human mind and desire is confusing to say the least. Whatever you believe, I say keep imagining and dreaming while keeping a firm grip on reality. Wanting to live in earlier times is no crime, and can help you get through present stresses as well. Learn as much as you can about your chosen era. Relish in stories written in that time period and don't be scared to attend fairs or reenactments offered. You may find a little simplicity to your everyday, hectic life.