We live in a “what’s next” culture.
When the thrill is gone, we move on.
When something breaks, we replace it.
When the shine wears off, we discard it.
But life doesn’t work that way.
Who I am today is stitched together by where I’ve been.
The good and the bad.
The beautiful and the ugly.
Even the pain, the heartbreak, the disappointment.
They taught me something.
They gave me strength.
It’s like lifting weights.
You don’t build muscle by avoiding the weight.
You build it by pushing against the resistance.
And you carry that strength because you’ve carried weight before.
It’s been said that those who don’t remember the past
are destined to repeat it.
I’d go further.
Those who don’t remember the past are denying who they are.
Moving on isn’t the same as amnesia.
Memory isn’t a prison.
It’s the map that shows us how we got here.
And maybe even why we’re still standing.
So embrace your past. Don’t hide those scars.
Be proud of the steep mountains you’ve faced.
And use the strength they gave you to face what’s ahead.
Because the weight you carried yesterday has become the strength you stand on today.
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Beautifully stated. What you’ve written feels like a gentle but firm hand on the shoulder. Weight is not an enemy but a teacher, and scars are not shame but scripture. The past is the ground we’ve already proven we can walk.
I love this! Well and beautifully said, Nathan!