I spent the day doing something that I wasn't sure if it would end up being a positive thing or a negative experience. Let me explain. As you all know by now I am living and working in Washington, DC. But, what you might not know is that I lived right outside DC back in the 80's and 90's, so this is like coming back home to me. It is the place where I was married, where my son was born, and where I began my teaching career.
I've been here for 3 weeks now and today happens to be my son's 25th birthday; happy birthday Vinny! So, I was inspired to get in my car and drive into Maryland to see the home where I was living when my son was born. I also visited the school where I began my teaching career, and all the places that were a part of my life when I lived here years ago. I thought that seeing the past would hurt and make me sad but, surprisingly, it was a wonderful experience and a beautiful day because that it what I chose it to be.
When you look at life with great clarity, you will realize that your past is really something that is gone, it doesn't exist anymore. Everything that happens, happens now, in the present. The only time the past comes alive is when we chose to re-live the past in the present moment. How we chose to bring our past to the present is up to us. If you re-cultivate regret, revenge or sadness, then that will be your present reality.
Memories are just thoughts and thoughts have no power or meaning whatsoever unless you give them meaning. You may choose to remember and live in pain like a victim, or instead you can have pleasant thoughts about the past here in the present.
Let me explain it another way. Once you realize that you control how you look and feel about your life you put the ball in your court, so to speak. Your happiness is your responsibility alone. Not your parents, sibling or friends, just you. If you define yourself by your past...how you feel you've been wronged, victimized or how you got the short end of the stick in life, you are living only a fraction of what is possible for you. Defining yourself by what has happened to you in life does not help you, it holds you back from true happiness and hope. Life without hope is hopeless. People who live in hopelessness do not live productive lives. We have communities of hopeless people who contribute nothing good to our society.
Life is the awareness of who you are today. Your dreams, your goals and your future. You and I are never defined by our past. The past is gone, it only comes back to life when we pull it into today. So when you pull your past into your present, only pull in the things that bring you joy and peace. Refuse to give negative memories and people who caused you pain a place on your timeline of life if they do not deserve to be there. My timeline is full of wonderful events that helped to make me the amazing woman that I am today.
Think about it this way....we delete bad photos from our timeline on Facebook right? We don't want them to be there. We fill our timeline with photos that we love to see because they bring us great memories.
It is the same in life. It is all in our control. Take control of your life, your emotions and your happiness. It is no one's responsibility to make you happy, it is all up to you.
It was a wonderful day. Happy Birthday to my baby boy. I love you more than words can say. Good night.
I've been here for 3 weeks now and today happens to be my son's 25th birthday; happy birthday Vinny! So, I was inspired to get in my car and drive into Maryland to see the home where I was living when my son was born. I also visited the school where I began my teaching career, and all the places that were a part of my life when I lived here years ago. I thought that seeing the past would hurt and make me sad but, surprisingly, it was a wonderful experience and a beautiful day because that it what I chose it to be.
When you look at life with great clarity, you will realize that your past is really something that is gone, it doesn't exist anymore. Everything that happens, happens now, in the present. The only time the past comes alive is when we chose to re-live the past in the present moment. How we chose to bring our past to the present is up to us. If you re-cultivate regret, revenge or sadness, then that will be your present reality.
Memories are just thoughts and thoughts have no power or meaning whatsoever unless you give them meaning. You may choose to remember and live in pain like a victim, or instead you can have pleasant thoughts about the past here in the present.
Let me explain it another way. Once you realize that you control how you look and feel about your life you put the ball in your court, so to speak. Your happiness is your responsibility alone. Not your parents, sibling or friends, just you. If you define yourself by your past...how you feel you've been wronged, victimized or how you got the short end of the stick in life, you are living only a fraction of what is possible for you. Defining yourself by what has happened to you in life does not help you, it holds you back from true happiness and hope. Life without hope is hopeless. People who live in hopelessness do not live productive lives. We have communities of hopeless people who contribute nothing good to our society.
Life is the awareness of who you are today. Your dreams, your goals and your future. You and I are never defined by our past. The past is gone, it only comes back to life when we pull it into today. So when you pull your past into your present, only pull in the things that bring you joy and peace. Refuse to give negative memories and people who caused you pain a place on your timeline of life if they do not deserve to be there. My timeline is full of wonderful events that helped to make me the amazing woman that I am today.
Think about it this way....we delete bad photos from our timeline on Facebook right? We don't want them to be there. We fill our timeline with photos that we love to see because they bring us great memories.
It is the same in life. It is all in our control. Take control of your life, your emotions and your happiness. It is no one's responsibility to make you happy, it is all up to you.
It was a wonderful day. Happy Birthday to my baby boy. I love you more than words can say. Good night.
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