"If you are depressed you are living in the past. If you are anxious you are living in the future. If you are at peace you are living in the present." - Lao Tzu
It would be nice if memories from the past were just recollections and you never tried to replay the script. It can put a person in an alternate reality. It's not very useful. This goes for both good and bad memories. As for the future, as long as one is working a typical job, it can be difficult not to anticipate what lies ahead and how he's going to deal with it. The same goes if you have kids (I don't). It can be difficult not to be anxious about their future. I can turn down static from the past almost at will. I'm getting better at turning down the static about the future, so I can have those brief peaceful moments. The mental health benefits of a beer or two can not be overstated in this process. I do think it helps to calm the inner monologue. Also just getting out and around on 30A or any place with natural beauty kind of makes you forget all that crap in a heartbeat. For me, Grayton Beach would fall in this category, Disney World would be the polar opposite. The real test is if you can drink a pot of coffee, spend an hour shopping at Wal-Mart, and emerge static free. If you can do this, then you qualify as a Zen Master.
