1. Starting over means forgetting what happened in the past.

When going through life, it's good to put your past behind you. The bad things that happen to you help you grow. While it's good to put those things behind you, you should never forget what happened to you. Your past is what makes you who you are. It doesn't define you, but it has shaped you. Don't forget all of the building blocks underneath who you are now.

2. Starting over means never taking a step back.

In order to move forward, you sometimes have to take a step back. You can't do that if you start over, forgetting your past. Sometimes you have to think back to the hard times and use those memories to help you push forward in life. One step backward might lead you to three steps forward. You never know what taking a step back into your past can do for you.

3. Starting over keeps you from your past.

Starting over is sometimes also referred to as having a "clean slate". No one can actually have a clean slate later on in life. Everyone faces various trials and tribulations throughout life, but these hard times only create change and growth. A new start on life is not reality. It's pretending you have never gone through any hardships. Your past is important to keep with you and to remember. Everyone says, "Leave the past in the past," but you should keep it in your back pocket. Your past can serve as a reminder of how far you've come. Your past is significant and should never be forgotten.

4. Starting over means forgetting your lessons learned.

The lessons you learn in life can be used to teach others. If you start over on a clean slate, you're leaving your lessons learned in the past. It's essential to carry those lessons with you for your entire life. Who knows when you'll be able to use them to either get through a situation of your own or to help someone else in a similar situation?

5. Letting go and moving forward helps you to use your past to better yourself and to help others.

My motto is, "Let go, and let God." Giving my cares and worries to God helps me to move forward while still holding onto those lessons I've learning in life. Through all of my struggles, I have only become stronger. I have been able to use my experiences to help others. Letting go and moving forward only means that I have stopped letting my past hurt me like it has before.

I haven't "started over" or pretended like I haven't gone through anything. Instead, I've used my past experiences to remind myself of how far I've come in overcoming my struggles and to help those around me get through the same struggles. It's not easy to acknowledge your struggles of the past, but it is so worth it.