I live in the most scary epoch ever. All historical data, pictures, footages are at my fingertips. Since the era of photography started, humanity have pretty much documented the entire 20th century and uploaded it online. Two clicks away from the curious me.
Every time I see a photo from 19xxs, I try to understand where it stands compared to my lifetime. Ok, this is 1993’s coup on Moscow. Happened during my lifetime, I was very young. These Star Wars behind on stage photos were taken in 197os, when my mom and dad were as young as I am now. 2 lifetimes of mine ago. The actors look so young in the photos but they’re old or dead now. Or look at these WWII soldiers, they all have died of age by now. What about these SR71 pilots, who are practically space pioneers. Most likely all dead of finishing their lives.
Ability to compare and to visualise individual’s history constantly reminds me how really short my active lifespan is. It’s feels like the best years are between my 20s and 40s where half of 20s perished. Time after 40 feels like slowing down and less valuable compared young decades. Youth, energy and beauty seem to be no longer there even for Hollywood start in their 40s. Sadly, there are only 2 young decades when you have your body not declining.
It’s easy not to pay attention to this given that you are not reminded about how short other people lives are. I believe it was easier before the information era, because there was at least less information available for an average individual, thus less reminders. I think it was easier to live your life back then. When the shortness of life was less obvious.