Chapter 23. Let Go of Your Past
Appreciate the Lessons Here is another example that may help you when you are wondering if you should make a move towards a new life. When I was growing up, living with my grandmother, and I was worried, my Gram used to say, “Dean, I was your age yesterday, and now I am an old woman. Don’t be my age and regret wasting even a second of your life on negative things. Go for what you want and realize that so many things that people worry about in life end up meaning nothing when you look back. Cherish every day.” My Grandmother has Alzheimer’s now, and we can’t com- municate anymore. I miss her so much. Her simple wisdom and our friendship will last an eternity. I will be forever grateful she was such a special part of my life. It’s all how we choose to “see it.” For example, I could take my grandmother’s illness two ways. I could be bitter and ask God, “Why would you do this to such an amazing lady who had such a tough time in life, who gave to so many people and asked for noth- ing back?” I could be bitter, resentful, and spiteful about the situation. But I am not. As I write this, a feeling of warmth washes over me because I don’t ask “Why.” I have come to realize her words were so much stronger than I ever imagined, even in illness and someday death. I understand I can’t spend even a second on the things I can’t change. I can thank God, and I can focus on how fortunate I was to have her in my life. A big reason I am the man I am today is because of her. I think of the amazing time I got to spend with her, and the lessons that will make tomorrow better than yesterday. I lived with her for much of my childhood. Her house was the safe house for me. When I lived with Gram, she always took the time to encour- age me to be better. She told me that I was gorgeous every day, even when I was a buck-toothed kid. If I told her I wanted to build a spaceship and go to Mars she would answer: “What parts do we
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