What was is now a dream...

I think we all know that those things that don't serve us can only hurt us. What we carry with us through life will either help us keep afloat or pull us under as we move through life. Memories will fade over time, details lost forever but what we retain are the emotions and feelings of those past moments. Hopefully most are warm feelings of joy and love but if you're anything like me you probably have a few recollections of hurt. But here's another one of those times where we can influence how we feel in the present moment. It's choices. It's something I've harped on many times before. Whether we want to dwell on the good or bad of our past is a choice. And regardless of what you choose just remember that our memories are really no more different then our dreams. They retain the same amount of detail which usually isn't very much and they really only leave us with lasting feelings. But why focus our attention and energies on things that happened so many years ago? Reminiscing from time to time is fun but the present moment is where you are so why not make the most of this moment? I think that those folks that dwell on the past are hoping in some way to change the outcome which makes about as much sense as trying to force yourself back to sleep so you can resume a dream you were having. The pain and joy you experienced years ago are only ingredients that help build your character and if your main ingredient is pain consider what kind of person you're creating of yourself. Atonement, vindication, redemption, those are all things we think will make better the hardships of the past but no matter what is or is not said or done now really has no bearing on our life now. That so-called atonement or vindication is really our own choice to let go of the past and live and love in the present. Really, where would you rather be?