In the world of state funding programs, there’s always something new coming down the pike—another regulation, another hoop to jump through, another layer of red tape. I remember joking with a coworker once, “You know, we’re going to look back on all this fondly someday.” She laughed—until two weeks later, when the next pointless mandate landed on our desks. Then she stopped laughing.
It’s a strange truth of being human: we tend to remember the past with a warm glow. “Things used to be better,” we say. But were they? Or do we just feel like they were?
There’s actually a name for this: Fading Affect Bias (FAB). It’s the psychological tendency for negative memories to fade more quickly than positive ones. In many ways, this is a healthy, adaptive function—it helps us carry forward the good, let go of the bad, and build a generally positive view of our lives. In fact, people who don’t experience this bias often struggle with depression, seeing the past through a darker, more persistent lens.
So here’s the twist: right now—this moment—could very well be what your future self remembers as “the good old days.” What if we could realize that while it’s happening?
Appreciating the present isn’t just about stopping to smell the roses. It’s a form of mindfulness. A practice of gratitude. A recognition that while things may be imperfect, they’re also meaningful, rich, and possibly something we’ll one day miss.
So take a breath. Look around. Laugh a little at the absurdity of the hoops you’re jumping through. You might just be in the middle of the good old days right now.
