🔵 By Shane Espinoza. Photo by lauragrafie.
I heard a quote: “The past does not haunt us, we haunt the past.”
We are the ones that revisit it to remember the good and the bad. We can choose to continually revisit the past and live there or we can look at today and choose to live life. Each person must choose what is right for them. I look at my past so I can see how far I have come on my journey. I choose to be in this moment, here and now. Do you ever wonder why the rear-view mirror is so small? It’s so you only take glances at what is behind you. The windshield is large so you can see all that is in front of you right now. We need to pay attention to what is in this moment.
Being incarcerated, I’ve seen numerous people get stalemated and living in the past. There is a small percentage that truly look for ways to improve their lives, even in here. The more a person holds on to the past the less they do. It’s easy to choose not to do something and lame the circumstances of the past. Everyone has a past, some choose to not let the past define them. I fit into this way of life. I am not the labels, the actions or the names of my past. I don’t live there. I live for today. I am the creator of my destiny, therefore, I will continue to focus on what I want for myself. I have the power needed to control my thoughts and emotions. I choose joy. No one else can do that for me. All the things that happened in the past have prepared me for this moment. I choose to take action to fulfill my desires. I know I will leave this place, however, I will not wait till then to do things that produce joy within me. I have peace and happiness which is a really good state to be in. living in the present moment is truly a gift that only I can give myself.
Find things in your daily life to be grateful for. Look for opportunities to be kind, creative and loving. True abundance is within you.