How to Let Go of the Past

Posted by in Recovery Tips | 19 comments


Recommend this article?

“Losers live in the past. Winners learn from the past and enjoy working in the present toward the future.” Denis Waitley

I want you to read this and know that I have moved on a long time ago. I don’t hate you. I am not angry at you. Yes, once upon a time, I was hurt, angry and livid at you but I couldn’t allow a dark cloud to hover above my head. The anger was the final burst of energy before letting go settled in. I am aware I have faults but living in the past is not one of them. There’s no future in it. Why should I carry the burden of anger towards you? It is unhealthy. Holding on to the past is a waste of valuable energy, energy that can be used to transform myself into a better person, today and tomorrow. Energy used to attend to urgent issues. Energy used to help others in need.

What happened between us is nothing compared to the pain of losing my son. I’ve healed from some of the worst things that happened to me because of my son’s death. Why shouldn’t this be any different? I’ve made peace with myself about these issues and lessons learned enabled me to help others heal too. I can clearly see now how the worst things helped shape who I am today and probably developed some of my finer points. Still a work in progress, mind you.

The past was not a mistake nor an accident. I look at it now as a blessing to learn from.

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. And today? Today is a gift. That’s why we call it the present. Babatunde Olatunji


If you enjoyed this post, please recommend to your network by adding a plus one . You can also get Email Updates of any new posts by adding your email address below:

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

If you enjoyed this post, then make sure you subscribe to my RSS Feed.

The comments posted on my blog are moderated. I reserve the right to remove comments, words or phrases that are defamatory, abusive, incite hatred and advertise an email address or commercial services or just plain spammy. I also reserve the right to remove posts that to my opinion are off-topic, irrelevant, ad-hominem, personal attacks and or just plain rude. (January 16, 2009)
  • http://feistymomma.com Dexie

    {{{hugs}}}

  • http://aboutmyrecovery.com Noemi

    :)

  • http://newmedia.com.ph New Media Philippines

    Hi Noemi,

    Nice post! The blogosphere sure has been interesting the past week or so, hahaha. :)

    All the best,
    Carlo

    New Media Philippiness last blog post..Social Media as the Front Page for your Business?

  • http://aboutmyrecovery.com Noemi

    That was indeed a challenge for you carlo. I know you had no bad intentions. Moving on….

  • http://filipinovoices.com Nick

    Amen to this.. Sometimes, we just can’t let go, sometimes we wish for others to change, and do not change ourselves.. sometimes, sometimes, we just let anger take over our lives… and forget that we have the ultimate control..

    Remember the past, live in the present, and be prepared and hopeful for the future.. (nods again in agreement)

  • http://imomonline.net imom

    I Like the opening quote. With a capital L :D

  • http://aboutmyrecovery.com Noemi

    Yup, we have the ultimate control of our attitude to just let it go and work on ourselves. Nice to see you drop by, Nick.

  • http://filipinovoices.com Nick

    I always drop by, just in my google reader, that is.. :)

  • http://aboutmyrecovery.com Noemi

    haha. Glad you liked it. Hope they learn.

  • thegreatest

    You handled it well, Carlo.

  • http://www.gojoeylogano.com Joey Logano

    I think it is always very important to live life in the current and future, and not in the past. What is the past… is the past, and the future awaits us all. :)

  • http://feistymomma.com Dexie

    sometimes a hug is all a person’s solace :) you have it whenever you need it {{{hugs}}} :)

  • http://aboutmyrecovery.com Noemi

    I learn from my past and improve myself.

  • http://mhaileon.blogspot.com lemuel

    hi, i heard about your site from a blogger friend before but this is the only time i got to your site. i read your “about me” page and other posts about your son and your family. i also congratulate you for getting the awards…. you are a Pinay we can truly be proud of. can i ask if i can include your site to my blog list? thank you very much.

    lemuels last blog post..Environment Conservation Champions

  • http://biyahengpinoy.blogspot.com/ biyahengpinoy

    that was a very nice post. it was nice seeing you at the awesome philippine bloggers’ night. :)

  • http://mysoulfulthoughts.blogspot.com/ Rach (Heart of Rachel)

    This a great post. The past can cloud our vision and prevent us from seeing the more significant things in life. Letting go of the past can help us focus more on what is important.

    Rach (Heart of Rachel)s last blog post..Weekend Snapshot #71

  • http://aboutmyrecovery.com Noemi

    Thank you for the visit and the kind words, Lemuel . Sure just link away. Hope you drop by again.

  • http://aboutmyrecovery.com Noemi

    I hope we get the chance to travel one of these days. I was mesmerized by your travel adventures.

  • http://aboutmyrecovery.com Noemi

    Feelings are very valid but one can’t stay long in it especially with anger . I choose to live my life in a healthy and loving manner.