“Yesterday is but today’s memory, and tomorrow is today’s dream” – Khalil Gibran
Just a quick Friday afternoon feelings article. A short review of “izing’s” and something that Khalil Gibran made me realize many years ago. His writings had a major impact on me in the late 60’s and into my college years. So just a short dedication to him and the attached picture really highlights what I am trying to express. What are “izing’s” you may be asking, well here we go.
“Romanticizing” is something most of us prefer when it comes to our past. These people that speak of the “good old days” have often forgot the reality of much of their past. If one’s past had been that wonderful they wouldn’t have to romanticize and we could ignore the whole current “Make America Great” marketing campaign. Those that buy into that romantic concept probably weren’t there. There was nothing romantic about an Anti-Vietnam War march. Those vets who came back from Vietnam believing they would be accepted back into the community were met with jeers and abandonment by very authorities who had send them there. They dealt with the trauma of that “Great America”.
“Traumatizing” is the harmful aspect of our past that we would prefer to forget but can’t. We can bury them and perhaps try romanticizing them but that is what leads to PTSD (now being referred to as PTSS I believe). It’s a way to pave over that rough spot in our road of life and bury our personal trauma. Of course there is also societal trauma which has more to do with societal events rather than personal ones. That doesn’t mean a societal trauma didn’t have a personal aspect but it may not have been view as such a personal issue. Ask anybody who was involved in the “civil rights movement” and you will probably get a very different response from someone in Selma than you would from someone in Seattle. Those two groups would also have a very different view of what “Make America Great” again means.
“Marginalizing” our past will certainly make our dreams for the future look differently.
Those who grew up as a “marginalize” individual or group won’t be as quick to romanticize their past if they spend all of their time denying the trauma. If they were adaptive surviver they will be able to move forward. It’s how they survived that will help determine their dreams for the future and I highly doubt they are chomping at the bit to “Make America Great” again. To many the America they live in today is as good as it has ever been and it is only through “hope” that life will get better.
“Fantasizing” is a strong motivator. It’s by fantasizing that we generate hope. Fantasizing is what helps us move past the traumatizing moments of our life. Fantasizing feeds our romanticizing and helps us get over our marginalization. Fantasizing helps drive our hopes and dreams for the future. Fantasy is what drives television ratings. Fantasy is what feeds award shows. It’s the shows we watch or the books we read that feed our fantasies.
To me “izing’s” are like the “ism’s” of Ferris Bueller, food for thought, have a good day…
A Poster Child's Perspective 
Howdy! This article couldn’t be written any better! Looking through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He always kept talking about this. I am going to forward this information to him. Fairly certain he’s going to have a good read. Thank you for sharing!