There always seems to be this pressure to forget about the past. The past is the past, and we have to leave it behind. I see this in mainstream conversations as well as spiritual discussions. When someone brings up a social trauma from the past, their opposition is inclined to tell them to “Move on.” The problem with moving on is that if I don’t learn and understand past mistakes, I’m bound to make the same mistakes again. To separate the past wouldn’t make sense because everything from the past is connected to the present and will continue to connect to the future. I’m not saying I must attach to the past and use it as my identity. That’s far from what I’d like to accomplish. However, if I want a better future, I must ensure that my past is well cared for.

No Ragrats

If you’ve read my book, you know that the last few years have been riddled with mistakes. These mistakes include failed relationships, unfulfilled goals, and an existential period of trying to find meaning. It’s taken time to revisit these faults in the past, but I don’t do it from a place of guilt. I want to understand these stages in my life so that I don’t go into the next few years making the same mistakes. I believe many avoid this type of reflection. It’s scary to want to go back to places in life when I felt like a failure. Yet, I must read the syllabus if these will be teachable moments.

This is not to say that I have regrets. I believe everything is done for a purpose, and my job is to figure out what that purpose is. I have no control over how things shape my life, so there is no room for regret. It’s like riding on the Magic School Bus and letting Ms. Frizzle take the wheel. Life is a teacher. I’m a student. Sometimes, I fail the test, but that only concerns my ignorance. My only job is to learn the lesson so that when the test happens again, I can pass with flying colors. Unbeknownst to me, passing the test can change my entire future, unlike the path life would have for me if I continuously failed.

Questions and Responses