The Past

I find it difficult to believe that the end of July arrives six days from today. Seven of twelve months of 2023 will soon be in the past. Unless you are seven months old, your past is many (or very many) months longer. You have lived month after month with no promise of more months to come. However, it is healthy, while not worrying about it, to live as if tomorrow will arrive. As you do, it is good to take action in regard to your past. You and I need to …

1.  Leave things (some) in the past.
2. Learn things from the past.

Leave Things
Leaving things in the past can be divided into two categories.
First, the category of positive events. For example - GPAs, homeruns hits, and blue ribbons. To leave these things is not to devalue or forget them; rather, it is to be thankful for them while moving forward. In other words, we need not (indeed, should not) rest on our laurels.

Second, the category of negative events. For example - lost jobs, strikeouts, and finishing in last place. To leave these things is to live today in the knowledge that while your past experiences do form you, they do not define you. You are more than your failures.

Learn Things
Your past is a great instructor. How adept are you as a student? Are you one who learns from your past? Allow the events of your past to inform your today and, Lord willing, your tomorrow.

From your victories, you can learn to rejoice humbly. From your failures, you can learn to be kind to those who were / are hurt as were you.

For what did you get in trouble (with your parents, your teachers, “the law)? Are you repeating those -infractions? If so, learn from the trouble and make a change.

For what were you praised? Did that praise show you that you can use your talents to glorify God as well as inspire and / or help others?

The past will remain the past. You can neither undo nor relive it. You cannot change it in any way. While you can repeat victories and recreate fun experiences, even those do-overs will be different than their originals.

So, leave and learn from your past and get on with living today.

#ordinarylives