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Description
                In the English language, there are three basic tenses: the past, the present, and the future.  If you really pay attention, you see that people cling to these tenses and live their lives accordingly.  Just ask one simple question, and you’ll see exactly which tense each person lives by.
                “Who are you?”
                There are those that answer, “I was…”  These people live in the past tense.  Memories, good and bad, dominate their minds.  There are many, many different reasons for this.  Some people dislike the present and prefer to reside in the happy memories of the past.  Others are burdened by their own poor choices and cannot look beyond their past sins.  There are even those that truly believe the idea that examining mistakes and triumphs of their past will give them wisdom for the future.  The folly in this way of thinking is that, if you never free yourself from the past, there may be no future to use this wisdom in.
                There are several problems with living in the past, the most important being that memories are not only very subjective, but also very quick to change.  Who’s to say that the memory you live your life by wouldn’t be quite different if remembered by someone else?  Crucial elements in a memory might be downplayed or blown out of proportion due to opinions and degraded accuracy.  Also, regret, bitterness, hatred, and all of the other negative emotions found in old memories will multiply, not fade, every time they are remembered.  Anger, sadness, and false happiness so easily overtake people who say, “I was…”
                A more restless spirit might say, “I am…”  This person would be someone who lives in the present tense.  Spontaneity is key in this tense, of course.  Planning things beforehand and forethought would make the tense past and future, respectively.  As you can probably guess, this leads to quite a few difficulties.  Often things are said without thinking.  People are hurt and things can be taken the wrong way, both of which cause trouble.  Decisions are made rashly and the consequences are harsh.  Most new ventures fall flat without proper planning.
                However, those are just the vices of the present tense.  Happiness and contentment can come from living life on the edge.  A certain kind of freedom accompanies spontaneity, as memories or plans do not weight down people without reserve.  Consequences and worry do not apply to the here and now unless they are being carried out currently.  Those who say, “I am…” just hope that the here and now is not painful, for there is no end to look forward to—not in the present tense.
                The last answer will be harder to obtain, as the asked’s attention will likely be elsewhere until the seventh or eighth repetition of the question.  Then, a startled, “…wha…erk, I will be…” will fall from their lips.  This is an occupant of the future tense.  The future is a rather dangerous place to dwell, as it is rather hazy and unpredictable.  Even the best plan can fall flat due to unchangeable circumstances.  This does not keep many people from depending on tomorrow and whatever it might bring, though.  Unfortunately, this practice often leads to flighty, insincere promises and procrastination.  Present problems will be forgotten, leaving only consequences for that precious future.  Those who dream in the future tense only have a rude awakening to look forward to.
               Let’s weigh our choices now, shall we?  There’s the past, which promises sweet nostalgia, but each failure’s pain is multiplied a thousand times over.  No?  Well, there’s always the present.  No worries, no regrets—but plenty of trouble.  That’s not for you, either?  How about the future?  You’ll have sweet dreams—until you wake up and realize how cold reality really is.  You won’t even have experience to protect you.  Sounds fun, right?  Actually, just like in the English language, all three tenses are needed in life for a good flow.

Description
                In the English language, there are three basic tenses: the past, the present, and the future.  If you really pay attention, you see that people cling to these tenses and live their lives accordingly.  Just ask one simple question, and you’ll see exactly which tense each person lives by.
                “Who are you?”
                There are those that answer, “I was…”  These people live in the past tense.  Memories, good and bad, dominate their minds.  There are many, many different reasons for this.  Some people dislike the present and prefer to reside in the happy memories of the past.  Others are burdened by their own poor choices and cannot look beyond their past sins.  There are even those that truly believe the idea that examining mistakes and triumphs of their past will give them wisdom for the future.  The folly in this way of thinking is that, if you never free yourself from the past, there may be no future to use this wisdom in.
                There are several problems with living in the past, the most important being that memories are not only very subjective, but also very quick to change.  Who’s to say that the memory you live your life by wouldn’t be quite different if remembered by someone else?  Crucial elements in a memory might be downplayed or blown out of proportion due to opinions and degraded accuracy.  Also, regret, bitterness, hatred, and all of the other negative emotions found in old memories will multiply, not fade, every time they are remembered.  Anger, sadness, and false happiness so easily overtake people who say, “I was…”
                A more restless spirit might say, “I am…”  This person would be someone who lives in the present tense.  Spontaneity is key in this tense, of course.  Planning things beforehand and forethought would make the tense past and future, respectively.  As you can probably guess, this leads to quite a few difficulties.  Often things are said without thinking.  People are hurt and things can be taken the wrong way, both of which cause trouble.  Decisions are made rashly and the consequences are harsh.  Most new ventures fall flat without proper planning.
                However, those are just the vices of the present tense.  Happiness and contentment can come from living life on the edge.  A certain kind of freedom accompanies spontaneity, as memories or plans do not weight down people without reserve.  Consequences and worry do not apply to the here and now unless they are being carried out currently.  Those who say, “I am…” just hope that the here and now is not painful, for there is no end to look forward to—not in the present tense.
                The last answer will be harder to obtain, as the asked’s attention will likely be elsewhere until the seventh or eighth repetition of the question.  Then, a startled, “…wha…erk, I will be…” will fall from their lips.  This is an occupant of the future tense.  The future is a rather dangerous place to dwell, as it is rather hazy and unpredictable.  Even the best plan can fall flat due to unchangeable circumstances.  This does not keep many people from depending on tomorrow and whatever it might bring, though.  Unfortunately, this practice often leads to flighty, insincere promises and procrastination.  Present problems will be forgotten, leaving only consequences for that precious future.  Those who dream in the future tense only have a rude awakening to look forward to.
               Let’s weigh our choices now, shall we?  There’s the past, which promises sweet nostalgia, but each failure’s pain is multiplied a thousand times over.  No?  Well, there’s always the present.  No worries, no regrets—but plenty of trouble.  That’s not for you, either?  How about the future?  You’ll have sweet dreams—until you wake up and realize how cold reality really is.  You won’t even have experience to protect you.  Sounds fun, right?  Actually, just like in the English language, all three tenses are needed in life for a good flow.