Gene's Blog

No Future in the Past

This is from Steve Goodier’s, Life Support Newsletter:

The man looked a little worried when the doctor came in to administer his annual physical, so the first thing the doctor did
was to ask whether anything was troubling him.

“Well, to tell the truth, Doc, yes,” answered the patient. “You see, I seem to be getting forgetful. No, it’s actually worse than
that. I can never remember where I park my car, where I’m going, or what it is I’m going to do once I get there — if I get there.
So, I really need your help. What can I do?”

The doctor mused for a moment, then answered kindly, “Pay me in advance.”

Actually, forgetfulness isn’t all bad…especially when we decide to forget all that pain from the past that threatens to ruin the
present. Like one song says, “There ain’t no future in the past.”

The past is to be remembered — how else will we learn from it and keep from repeating it? But why would I want to remember
every time I felt hurt because of my spouse, my children, my friends, my boss or anybody else? Why would I want to fill my mind
with a detailed catalogue of past pain? Better to remember the times they brought me joy or love or feelings of warmth. Unfortunately, even those wonderful and magical moments too easily fade away.

A friend of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, asked her about a particular traumatic event in her life. Miss
Barton seemed perplexed.

“Can’t you remember?” the friend prodded.

Clara Barton replied, “I distinctly remember forgetting it.”

Dwell on the past — but not the negative past, not the pain of the past nor the sadness. Dwell on the good. Be consumed by past
joys and obsessed with gratitude. Dwell upon the moments that uplifted you, the times you laughed and the memories of love
shown to you by friends and family.

Not everything should be remembered, and those who live well know what to forget and what to cherish. Like the song says, “There
ain’t no future in the past.” But there IS joy there. And love. And kindness…if we choose to remember.

— Steve Goodier

Now, there is a bit of advice worth remembering. He’s right, you know? We CAN choose what to hang onto from our pasts and what not to. It isn’t exactly rocket science. Let go of imagined slights and hurts, focus on the love you are, the love you have shared, have known. Let the rest go. Learn from your past, that you might make your future more meaningful, more purposeful, more loving. It is the only way we’ll ever get there from here. Where? To the future we so want to create, a place where love is all there is. much love to you, :^) gene

If today brings even one choice your way
choose to be a bringer of the light :^) gene