September 5, 2025- Historical fiction

“History is lies agreed upon”

~W.E.B. Du Bois

Perception is not always reality. We observe things only as we are able to at that moment. We seem to be able to readily accept that the person with a sight or hearing impairment might observe things very differently from an individual without such a disability. The unimpaired abilities tend to be heightened. A person who cannot hear may notice visual details that the average person would miss.

Don’t we realize that our ability to observe is impaired at all times? We carry with us preconceptions, assumptions, heightened or diminished attention, preferences, and lived experience. Because of this, our perceptions are never anyone's full reality other than our own. To accept our own observations as a singular truth would be a denial of reality.

So what is history? History is a mutually agreed-upon set of observations by its authors. Those observations are not necessarily accurate. They are also not necessarily an overt attempt at deception. It’s difficult to call someone a liar when they are telling a story they believe to be true.

Reflect on history, but only to inform current choices. We cannot change the past, but we can change the stories we tell about it. Let those stories help to create a better version of you in the future.