A man lived a life shaped by others' expectations. He mastered the game of "I had to" and "I must," as his days passed filled with blame and self-consolation. Inspired by Woody Allen’s quote, "In my next life, I want to live it backward," the idea arises: what if life unfolded in reverse? Imagine starting with the daily recovery at a care home until you’re deemed too healthy to stay. Each day, you grow younger, freer, and more innocent, eventually becoming a child with boundless energy and time, carefree under the watchful care of youthful parents. As Allen whimsically puts it, your life culminates in a perfect organism – the very spark of human existence.
Guilt reflects a violation of our personal standards ("I feel guilty because I can’t do what I want"), while shame arises from failing to meet the standards imposed by others ("I feel ashamed because I don’t align with someone else’s values or expectations").
This reflection is inspired by Connirae and Steve Andreas’ book, The Heart of the Mind, and Woody Allen’s brilliant perspective:
"In my next life, I want to live it backward. Starting with death removes one problem. You wake up in a nursing home and feel better every day. Then they kick you out because you’re too healthy. You retire and get a gold watch on your first day of work. You work for 40 years, becoming younger every day, until you’re ready to enjoy parties, sex, and alcohol. You’re fully prepared for high school, then middle school, until you become a child again and spend your days playing carefree. Eventually, you’re born, and then you get to spend nine months floating in luxury, with central heating and room service, until you finish as…A perfect orgasm."
Woody Allen, now 89.
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