[Serious] Is the Past Real?

[emjay]

It's an interesting question, that seems like it may (or may not... if I'm missing the intended point, which is often the case, sadly) relate to some of the sorts of questions that play on my mind sometimes, namely trying to quantify the value of my life, or life in general. Something very hard to do when life is a process; a series of moments, each fading into the next. These thoughts aren't very coherent I admit, but they do nonetheless play on my mind and tie me in knots when I think about them. Just how to place value on... or evaluate/analyse... previous moments, when only the present moment is real (or is subjectively real), and will only be so until briefly until it becomes the past. Those previous moments can be said to be formative, or causal to different degrees, in producing the present moment, whether for better or for worse, but beyond that I have difficulty trying to find a useful way of thinking about them, but not for want of trying. Sorry if this is a bit rambly and/or incoherent... that's just how this subject is in my head.