Take-Backs, Do-Overs, or Reset Buttons.

A few days ago, Jess and I were taking a leisurely walk in our neighborhood park when we happened to notice a mother and daughter walking in front of us. We have all seen this before. The little girl was walking along the path about ten feet in front of her mother laughing, playing, and enjoying her independence when suddenly she

notices coming in the opposite direction a man with his German Sheppard approaching in the opposite direction. Startled by what in her mind was a ferocious beast, she frantically turned around and ran full speed screaming “Mommy, mommy hold my hand.” She was so scared of what she thought was coming after her, she ran past her mother and accidentally grabbed my hand instead. Because she was afraid of what was behind her, she tried to hide and took hold of the closest thing to her believing it would offer the protection she was looking for. Unfortunately for her I was as afraid as she was. J

As I laughed at the little girl drastic attempt to escape a thought popped in my head. Like the child, how many times have I ran away and taken hold of the wrong things out of fear of what I thought was chasing me from my past? It’s amazing how often we convince ourselves that people or “things” have power to hide or protect us from our past. We tell ourselves that if we move away or find new friends, then we will forget the past  and the past will forget about us.  We come up with sayings like “I am redefining who I am” or “I’m going through a total make over” and spend hundreds of dollars on substances (legal and illegal), fad diets, gym memberships, and shopping sprees in hopes that we can camouflage ourselves and become the “new” you that is really still the “true” you in disguised with a bunch of baggage, debt and clothes we can’t afford. LOL

Well I have bad news and good news for anyone who, like me, has tried to run away and take hold of the wrong things hoping to run away from our past. The bad news is there is no one you can run and take hold of or a place you can go to hide you from what you have done. It has already happened and the damage is done. In life there are no “take-backs, do-overs, or reset buttons.”  There is only wonderful humanity and along with the beauty of “Being” there are mistakes, hurts, regrets and huge blunders. Check out JessInTime to hear more about the many I have made. If you are breathing right now, then you will make mistakes. Some will be small like not putting down the toilet seat and others will be not so small like telling your loved one they are loved. But whether small or enormous we will all make mistakes. 

So relax, take a breath, and despite what you have done by all means keep going. The good news is you can also celebrate what your past has allowed you to feel, learn, and grow through. I don’t know if it true with everyone, but along with much of the pain I have experienced from my past, I have also found my past to be an incredible Instructor and motivator. It may have been horrible in the moment, but after the initial pain of my past was over my past also helped me to discover new perspectives and a unimaginable inner- strength. The past is just funny that way I guess. It can hurt and it can heal at the same time... If you let it.

So today, I have made up my mind to let go of the wrong things I have held on to and begin to embrace this wonderful present.The past has happened and trying to run away is over. No more futile attempts at take-backs, do-overs, or reset buttons. Today I will enjoy my present and let the chase for my future begin.