The Rearview Mirror

On why focusing on the past in fear of the future messes with our present

Starting April 6, for the next 30 days, I’m writing a brief essay every day and posting it to my Medium account in an effort to get off social media and focus on doing something good for me, both personally and professionally. To read my last essay, click here.

One of my favorite string of South Park episodes is the cult classic “Coon and Friends” trilogy, where the gang cosplays as superheroes and somehow find themselves fighting the dark lord Cthulhu.

Along with the banner bout, showrunners Matt Parker and Trey Stone ensure they lay the superhero commentary on thick with the creation of a character named Captain Hindsight. As one wiki puts it:

“Jack Brolin, a news reporter, wanted to improve his hindsight by using an experimental machine. However, a retroactive spider got into the machine and his hindsight was blasted to superhuman levels. He became known under the pseudonym, Captain Hindsight, as he fought for peace and the American way with his 3 companions, Shoulda, Coulda, and Woulda.”

The former news reporter goes on to use his powers to fly to disasters such as the BP oil spill and…lecture responders on how they could’ve better prevented the mishap in the first place. Of course…