Rewriting

You’re always free to change your mind and choose a different future, or a different past. from Illusions by Richard Bach

Many years ago, I went through a Richard Bach stage. I read almost everything he wrote and devoured his thoughts. Until Jake’s parents ruined it for me, Jonathan Livingston Seagull was my favorite book.

After a while, I started to grow tired of his style and his ideas became less and less plausible. For some reason, the above quote always stuck in my mind. Obviously choosing a different future is no big whoop. Most people believe in the idea that they have the ability to change their future.

On the other hand, changing your past might require some more work. I’m not sure what exactly Richard Bach meant by that but here’s my interpretation:

What I call my past is a collection of memories my brain stores from events that I believe occurred. It’s pretty much proven that, in some cases, what we remember is an accurate version of the event and, in many cases, it’s not.

Most popular sayings tell you to forget the past and the future and concentrate on today. They claim you have no ability to change what has already occurred or what’s yet to come. But I disagree. I know that I don’t like the way I remember my past and I’ve decided I’m going to change it. Memory is selective and I’m electing to no longer remember things in their distorted way.

Almost everyone has some horror stories from their past. One kid was teased mercilessly, another beaten by bullies regularly, and yet another had to go through much more severe problems. Some of these people get hung up on their past and others move on. I don’t know how one ‘gets over’ it and the other doesn’t and I’ve always subscribed to the notion that if you’re the type who clings to the past, you can’t just ‘get over it’.

I am now changing my mind. I’ve decided to get over it. And I’m going to. Enough is enough. It’s time to stop holding on to the negative memories. It’s time to remember the good times, the kind people, the laughter. It’s time to move on and make new memories.

It’s time to let go.

Previously? Right Moment.