Editorial December 28, 1992 Issue

Looking ahead

Nathan A. Talbot

It had been a cold winter. And it seemed longer than usual. But the hardness of the season was showing signs of winding down with a few days' break in the weather. Compared to what we'd been through, it felt warm. People were out in their shirt sleeves and cutoffs. One would have thought we'd hit the middle of the summer!

As I walked along I found myself realizing that if we had just come out of a hot summer and the temperature had dropped to where it was at that very moment, everyone would have been wrapped in the warmest clothes. Why such a contrast in the way people would have acted? There are probably many explanations. Acclimation, desire for a change, happy abandon. But another part of the explanation is that people look ahead. And what they see by looking ahead can determine a little of how they'll act right now.

Sometimes people look ahead because things aren't so happy. Viewing the future can be something of an escape—an attempt to be relieved of the present. Other times folks look ahead because something very good is on the horizon; they want to begin enjoying it already.

Send a comment to the editors

NEXT IN THIS ISSUE

Article

In next week's Sentinel—