Ann

You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go

Appreciating Our Past

It is easy to be negative about past mistakes and unhappiness. But it is much more healing to look at ourselves and our past in the light of experience, acceptance, and growth. Our past is a series of lessons that advance us to higher levels of living and loving.

The relationships we entered, stayed in, or ended taught us necessary lessons. Some of us have emerged from the most painful circumstances with strong insights about who we are and what we want.

Our mistakes? Necessary. Our frustrations, failures, and sometimes-stumbling attempts at growth and progress? Necessary too.

Each step of the way, we learned. We went through exactly the experiences we needed to, to become who we are today. Each step of the way, we progressed.

Is our past a mistake? No. The only mistake we can make is mistaking that for the truth.

Today, God, help me let go of negative thoughts I may be harboring about my past circumstances or relationships. I can accept, with gratitude, all that has brought me to today.

From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie ©1990, Hazelden Foundation.

Ann

This reading touched my heart today because in what may seem a strange way, I am truly grateful for my past and all I went through.

I am sorry my son is addicted to drugs, and I pray for him each day.

But after walking through fire, enduring the very worst in myself as my codependency took over my very soul...I found a peace I would never have known if not for the experience.

I learned that bad days don't last forever and that hearts heal in time, no matter how shattered they may feel.

I learned that the world is a beautiful place and all I have to do is show up and notice.

I learned that each sunrise brings hope for a new day filled with potential, lessons, gifts of love and friendship and hope.

If I had my life to live over again, I would not trade one single day with anyone, no matter how dark or painful that day was, because I love my life today and I would not be where I am if my path had not taken me through those days.

Do I appreciate my past? Indeed I do because it was filled with strangely wrapped gifts that I could only see in hindsight.

Hugs

hope2be

Ann,
I too felt uplifted by this reading this morning. It was strange, because I woke up very depressed and I wouldn't have thought that the reading could bring me some sort of hope.

Although I'm struggling with letting go, this reading made me get up and look at my situation from a different point of view today...like promises to come.

Thanks for posting this,
Hope

Impurrfect

(((Ann))) as most of you know, I'm a "double whinner" - in recovery for codependency and addiction.

I no longer regret my past. It's what I needed to go through to become the person I am today. I'm not perfect, I still have my codie slips, but I continue to make progress. I admit my part in past dysfunctional relationships, and I learn.

I don't want to be the person I was...a doormat, a person who turned to drugs to deal with the dysfunctional relationships in my life.

Today? I embrace the past, though I also consider it a chapter of my life that is closed. I truly can't regret something that has made me a better person, but I also know that I have to pay attention to feelings and work through them in a healthy way.

Hugs and prayers,

Amy

bluebelle

Thanks for sharing. Sometimes I'm really good at remembering this. I know that my past has made me who I am, and I'm thankful for that. I know that I'm strong and am grateful for the tools that I have. Other times, I give myself a hard time for a choice that I made. I think that I would be farther along or something if I had done things differently. I'm thankful for this reminder that it is o.k. to make mistakes. We learn through mistakes, and we make choices at the time for a reason.

Ann

I read once that when we live in regret of our past, or in fear of our future...we lose all the joy in "today".

We can't change one day of our past, nobody can foretell the future, but we can embrace all the joy and beauty of today and live each day well, as life was intended to be lived.

Hugs

Heartbroken0608

Ann, you are my inspiration! I hope someday I can have the serenity you seem to have.

Thank you!

KelleyF

sometimes the Brightest Light comes from the Darkest Places

hope213

sometimes the Brightest Light comes from the Darkest Places ..so true kelley. all you have to do is follow it.