There was a period of time in my life when I felt broken emotionally and couldn’t see through the density of my situation to a better tomorrow. I knew only to take one step at a time, placing one foot in front of the other. So that’s what I did. One foot and one step at a time. Step by step I filled an entire day and then a second day and eventually a week and all of my steps added up to my forward movement.
One night in a moment of uncertainty, confusion and deep anguish, my dear friend Bea called to check on me and she taught me something I’ve always remembered and carried with me as truth:
You never have to go back to yesterday; it’s over. Where you are is here. Now. And nothing that happened in a string of your yesterdays can hurt you today. Or tomorrow. Or ever.
I understand now what I was incapable of seeing then: the past and its cacophony of emotions born of experiences (some of which we choose and others chosen for us) have power over us today only if we choose to give those emotions a place in our heads and in our thoughts.
What matters is what we think because our thoughts, which flow through us and can sometimes be really loud in our heads, determine our state of being.
Your feelings are real to you. Your adventures in life will generate a wide range of thoughts, which will create emotional responses that will inform your journey. And you get to make the choice every single day about how you interact with those emotions.
When it seems as if the voice in your head is too loud and your thoughts are negative and the accompanying emotions feel too heavy to carry, please remember
You never have to go back to yesterday; it’s over. Where you are is here. Now. And nothing that happened in a string of your yesterdays can hurt you today. Or tomorrow. Or ever.
Take a deep breath. Let the chatter and emotions come to a resting place inside your head. And then choose to embrace a different emotion.
I am grateful for the knowledge that I’m wired for happiness, as are you.
I’m also grateful to have lived through enough of life to reiterate Rainer Maria Rilke‘s profound wisdom:
No feeling is final.
No amount of hurt, joy, heartache, euphoria, stress, pleasure, pain, delight, grief, happiness, trauma, enjoyment, agony, amusement, sadness, entertainment, anguish or diversion will last forever. I promise.
That’s not to say we won’t be faced with all of these emotions, to varying degrees, at some time or another throughout our existence. I believe we should experience this broad range of emotions. How else can we possibly learn and understand and grow into better humans if not through these very personal moments that add up to a lifetime?
Just keep going and when you think you can’t, just take one more step and then another.
I’m cheering for you.
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Bea has always been one smart cookie.
I made granola this morning and thought of you, my dear. I sought you out on the internet and was blown away. You’ve been a busy little bee. I’m so proud. I loved seeing Sister J and hearing her “so cute”. It brightened my day. I love you girl. “Just keep swimming.”
What a joy to see your name pop up on my comment feed! I love you back 🙂