A sense of connection
It’s interesting looking back at civilizations, trying to imagine them as real. It’s similar with historical figures, who seem more like legends than actual people. However as I get older I somehow feel a stronger connection to figures of our past, and can relate to what they did in their lives.
As we learn and read about geniuses like Albert Einstein and try to wrap our head around what they accomplished, the more possible their stories become, no matter what history or age they come from.
One of the most interesting classes I took in college was The History of the World. It was literally the history of everything that has happened since the beginning of time. On the first day of class my friend and I were seated in the audience waiting for class to begin.
Suddenly from behind us a textbook flew towards the front of the room and smacked the wall with a bang. The whole room went silent, a bit afraid as to what the hell was happening. The apparent book thrower made his way to the front of the room and began the lecture. He was the professor, young enough to blend in with the students. He had our attention, definitely an eccentric dude, but he made class interesting.
The professor attempted to explain our complex history through stories and acting out short plays, attempting to make it more relatable.
The topic of the class was so vast that he needed to teach the material in a unique way. How could we learn about civilizations like Mesopotamia, Ancient Greece and medieval China and connect to them thousands of years later? It seems difficult to believe that the people of those eras were the same people that we are today.
It wasn’t until I explored this history through my own interests and reading that the relationships of humans throughout time has really begun to make sense.
The people from past civilizations were just like us, though they lived in different circumstances. They had dreams, goals, desires, fears, just as we do today. The difference is what we consider important has just been altered by our surroundings.
As I’m able to understand our history and make further connections through the books I read, I’m able to relate to civilizations as a whole more easily and actually imagine what life may have been like.
The greatest minds of all time such as Leonardo da Vinci Anton Chekhov, even Ancient Greeks such asPlato weren’t only figures, but actual people who have lived their own life as I am now.
These legends are known for their contributions to the world and changing our history. But when we read about them and what they went through, it becomes possible to see them not as gods, but imperfect beings. They were just people who had a passion, and were fascinated by what makes life, life.
For the first time I’m at a stage where I’m surrounded by adults all day as opposed to people my own age. As we are start a career in an uncomfortable situation where we feel inexperienced, it’s easy to look up to bosses, managers, even older employees and be timid around them.
They often seem so powerful, like they’ve been through so much in their life where we are only just beginning. That’s what makes this stage fun.
They were once children, they grew up and probably kept many of their childlike qualities, they had mentors and idols, and one day they turned their passions into something great that in some way, changed the world. We sometimes believe they have all the answers, but they too were once in my shoes, a young kid looking for a bit of guidance. In reality, they haven’t really changed much.
At heart when we get older, we can hopefully just become somewhat wiser, without losing the qualities that make life exciting. these experiences haven’t changed over thousands of years, they’re what make us human. I hope to never lose that sense of wonder we feel when life becomes brand new again.
My life is changing faster than ever. I’m realizing things I once found important are no longer true, and I’m doing my best to continue to get better every day to become somebody wise, thoughtful and inspiring.
Looking at the influential people around me who might seem intimidating are simply just people too, still with much to learn. There’s always something new around us when we stay curious.
