I have always been a big proponent of honoring the past. I want to preserve buildings and other bits and pieces of history. It seems important to have those things around to help us remember the lessons learned in earlier times.
For the last few weeks I've been writing about some particular events in my own life. It's not a memoir, and I doubt I will ever publish it anywhere, which should be a relief to other people who are part of the stories. It's just a way for me to process some things and to look for common threads. I'm playing connect the dots, I suppose.
The thought that has continued to occur to me through this process is that the past doesn't always deserve honoring. Sometimes it might be best buried.
One of my mottos for living has always been, "Let it go. Let it be. Let it lie." I'm going against my own advice by not letting things lie. But I've been getting messages for a few months that I need to write these stories. I even had that repeated multiple times this past weekend at the writing workshop. So, I'm writing.
Perhaps there's a reason I don't yet understand. But I am not finding much worth honoring in this past - about me or anyone else involved. Perhaps time will reveal the reasons.
2 comments:
One big reason to remember the past is to learn its lessons. If there is nothing to be learned or savored, let it go. Live around it and go on.
We cannot waste time longing for what is no more. But we can feel blessed for having had the good things we've had. Sometimes remembering those blessings helps us bridge some really lean todays.
I didn't think there was anything to be gained from this, which is why I've let it lie for so many years. But, the universe is telling me otherwise. So, we will see. I'm always grateful.
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