It was only 17 years ago, but it feels like forever ago.  It feels like it was a different century when, in 2004, David Brooks wrote a book about America called On Paradise Drive: How We Live Now (And Always Have) in the Future Tense.  His main point was that Americans lived in the future tense, by which he meant that whatever problems we faced in the present moment were not really problems because we imagined a future that would be so much better.

Our house is too small, but no matter. One fine day we will live in a big and spacious house.

Our income is too small, but one fine day we will have a better job which will generate all the resources we need for the life we want to lead.

My health is challenged now,  but one fine day I will find the doctor and get the treatment that will have me feeling better than ever.

Our children have not yet found themselves, but in the future they will be living just the happy life they dream of living.

The key to living in the future tense is this limitless sense of optimism that the future will be better than the past.

Most of us do not believe that today if we ever did.  Most of us ask a different question.  What if this is all there is? What if this is it? What if there is no one fine day?  What if the present moment is all we’ve got?