A close friend ended a heartfelt note recently with these words: “Marilea, I really regret keeping that secret from you all these years. I just couldn’t tell you, and I’m sorry. Can you ever forgive me?” My response to her: “There’s nothing to forgive! I don’t waste my time with might have been’s, what should have been done differently, or said more—because that doesn’t serve me now. We don’t get to go back and do things over. But we do get a second chance to live well. We can pass on what we’ve learned to all our loved ones. And those who come after us will benefit from our hard-won lessons. That’s enough for me. And when you think about it, that’s a great deal! Much love to you,”
Dwelling on the past keeps us stuck and unable to move ahead in our lives unencumbered. In Courage To Change, there’s a wonderful saying: “Look back without staring.” We can certainly know and understand where we’ve come from. But it doesn’t have to limit our possibilities now. We just need to find the courage to change what’s necessary and move forward.