Thursday Thoughts...

“Never look back – unless you’re planning on going that way.” 

Henry Thoreau

At first glance this quote seemed self-evidential; correct; positive and all of that.  Of course to move forward we have to look to the future, think about where we are headed, look for a fresh start, be enthusiastic and so on. Don't get stuck in the past keep moving forward seems to be the thrust of it.

But I am not sure about never looking back.

I think it depends so much on why you are looking back. If you are looking back with longing, with regret, with deep heartfelt wishes to go back, and for life to be as it was back then, it's probably not all that healthy or helpful. In part it's understandable that one might want to return to a time before some catastrophic incident, to turn back time so that something horribles doesn't happen or isn't said. That is understandable, but not helpful because it isn't going to happen.

If you are looking back with fondness, to memories which make you smile; or to gain strength from knowing you have handled tough things in the past; to recall lessons learned in order to be able to apply them again; that sort of checking back in with the past can be put to good use I think.

Perhaps this quote is just another reminder to me of how much I worry about absolutes. About complete and utter certainty. About firm and unequivocal positions. I find life has far too much grey to be certain about anything...