Holding On To The Past

It may not always be a bad thing.

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The other day while scrolling on my phone, I came across a thought-provoking statement. It said, “To move forward, you have to let go of the past.”

Sometimes, life demands us to let go of a few strings we continue to grasp as we move forward. Letting go of these strings is liberating. But, a part of me that still smiles in the middle of a chaotic day when she thinks about the feeling of going outside to play as a kid screams that holding on to the past may not always be a bad thing. 

The phrase, Holding on to the past accompanies negative emotions and sad memories you wish you don't get to relive again. On the flip side, some of these experiences lay the foundation of your life, and there is no harm in reminiscing them from time to time. 

It is like walking on the road of life by holding on only to those good and bad experiences that steer you, especially during bad weather, instead of letting the same experiences be a heavy stone tied to your waist as you move forward.

All it takes is a perspective shift.

All it takes is for you to see that light and shade co-exist in this journey.

All it takes is a belief that while the past has power to pull you down if you let it, it also has the power to push you up if you let it.

-Reading and dreaming in a little corner of my room-

This week, I encourage you to write down some things or memories from the past you still hold on to and one good thing that came out of them. Do the last bit, especially for the experiences you considered as negative at the time they happened (maybe still do). It will encourage you to focus on how most things you went through in the past shaped you into who you are today. Today, we thank them for giving us clarity, peace and redirection when we needed it the most.

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HERE IS MY UNFINISHED LIST 

Some things or memories from the past I still hold on to:

•  The memory of an old me who experienced her first big failure 6 months ago as a reminder for my present self that a beautiful life awaits on the other side of it.

• The shells I collected on my first few visits to the beach as a reminder of how much travelling excites me.

• Class photographs of grades 10 and 12 as a reminder of all the beautiful friendships that bloomed at the time, even though some of them got lost in the way.

• A memory from 2018 when I achieved something big but chose to feel like a failure because I “wanted” more as a reminder to accept the unknown with grace and gratitude for all that was gained, instead of only focusing on what was lost.

• My journals that I can revisit anytime I need advice from my old self. 

• Photo prints of my favourite corners in my parent’s house that is currently being reconstructed as a reminder that it will continue to be a space where I feel safest, even though it may not look the same ever again.

• The few weeks leading up to starting my newsletter, when I questioned my writing skills and feared being judged by acquaintances, as a reminder that the fulfilment experienced from following your passion outweighs the negativity received any day. So, don’t give up because you never intended to please anyone else but yourself by doing what you love.

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THIS WEEK’s RECOMMENDATIONS

• Living and Dying by

  Patrick Muindi
  . A beautifully written piece that will nudge you to re-evaluate your idea of success.

• 40 things I know to be true by

  Sarah Robertson
  . Valuable wisdom about the journey of life in a single post.

• ACTIVITY: The Reverse Bucket List by

  Chris Guillebeau
  . A reminder for you to pause and appreciate how far you’ve come.

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