In The Great Gatsby, how does Gatsby misuse the past and his memories to enliven the present?

Gatsby wanted to repeat the past or at least his illusion of it. Despite Daisy being married Gatsby wants to re-create a time when he fell in love with Daisy. It is an idealized version of the past that Gatsby craves. It's been 5 years since he last saw Daisy. Gatsby wants to ignore the years that he wasn't near Daisy and simply carry on with his fantasy.