I mentioned that one of the tripartite formulas in American worldview involves time: past, present, and future.

Americans have a penchant for the future and tend to disregard the past.

Americans often have trouble enjoying the present moment.

I have realized that the past and future are real illusions, that they exist in the present, which is what there is and all there is.

There was only present, and it was infinite. The past and the future were just blinders we wore so that infinity wouldn't drive us mad.

But now isn’t simply now. Now is also a cold reminder: one whole day later than yesterday, one year later than last year. Every now is labeled with its date, rendering all past nows obsolete, until — later of sooner — perhaps — no, not perhaps — quite certainly: it will come.