Can you be free of the past, knowing it brought you to this place? Can you be sure of the present, knowing that you are enough? Can you have hope for the future, secure in the intentions of the universe and those who love you most?
Another common saying that I use probably too often is “Says easy, does hard.” Or, some things, maybe most things, are harder to do than they are to say. This intention lives in that register for me. It’s probably the shortest and most direct encapsulation of what I hope for myself and for each of you but each question challenges me.
I'm going to work them in reverse order because I think that’s how I’m making progress. I’m the furthest along on hope for the future because I have people in my life who anchor me and hold up a mirror when I need it. I believe in them enough to have hope. The other two are much harder. I’m not sure most of us will ever be free of the past nor will we ever fully believe we are enough. But perhaps all that matters is we don’t let the past and the present get in the way of the future. And by that standard, I feel much better.
As you read this I wonder
Which of these seems the hardest to you and why?
Have you given yourself credit for making progress against them?
How would you prioritize them in terms of how they matter to you?
The past, the present, and the future all have their place. We cannot solely live in one. But we can make ourselves more comfortable in each and, as we do, the transitions between them can become less abrupt and more peaceful.
