Echoes

I’ve been studying for a bunch of exams that would validate the knowledge gathered in the last few years. In the midst of studying I heard an echo from the past when one had to take exams every other month. It’s interesting when I look back now; there were a few subjects that I would go out of the way to ensure a great grade and then there were the others where I was just about interested in securing a passing grade. This attitude changed while in college - I was just interested in a passing grade and more often than not I would walk out of the examination in an hour or so when there were a couple of hours available. (Generally in an hour when we had three). I don’t say this is the correct attitude- it worked for me and I am happy but it might be a huge difference for someone else when a scholarship is on the line. Passing grades might not be enough.

Back to the echo - An echo is a reflection. Slightly delayed but a reflection of the sound wave that was the original wave. Similarly a memory echo from the past is a reflection of a particular instance in time that one remembers. It’s quite different from sitting down and reflecting - that is a filtered mechanism for one to look at the past and see what can be learnt. An echo is much more powerful; there is no filter or bias - one relives the moment as it was in the past. Huge difference. One learns from both situations however i believe that an echo can teach you much more because there is no filter or bias.  Nietzsche said something like if the world is a game of dice, then the outcome is bound to be repeated. If you consider that statement made by Nietzsche has some fundamental truth behind it due to the nature of humanity to repeat the same things over and over again, then a simple reflection of the past is good enough. However if you believe that one has the possibility to make changes to the outcome; it then makes sense to relive a moment as an echo and learn from it so as to influence the outcome. 

Echos teach you as long as one is willing to listen and see. 

C