I am nostalgic. I possess the uncomfortable habit of reflecting on the negative experiences that occurred in my past. At times, I often sit and wonder how the outcomes of certain situations could have differed if I had simply changed my behavior in one minor interaction or confrontation. I think to myself, "If I had done this one thing differently, maybe my life would not look the same as it does right now."

That is not to say I am unhappy with my current state of being. I just have a tendency to reflect on the hardships I have encountered, and my mind actively wanders to emphasizing on the idea that my shortcomings are the sole results of said hardships. I often overlook the fact that it takes at least two to tango, and that there is more than one side to every story.

In the same sense, no matter how one looks at the world and the previous experiences that make up their story, it is naive to ignore the fact that you may always be the villain in someone else's story, regardless of your good intentions.

It was not until recently that I had a very meaningful conversation with a person who's ideas and opinions I value greatly. This person does her best to aid me in the struggles of everyday life, and after expounding upon my recent nostalgic thoughts to her, she gave me one of the most useful pieces of advice that was seemingly right in front of my face - I was just too wrapped up in my own thoughts to acknowledge it. She said to me, "Accept what you cannot change - it is what it is - and be mindful of all that you can change in your days going forward."

These words hit home in the sense that, no matter how many times I overanalyze a previous interaction in my head, there is nothing I can do to change it. We as people cannot go back in time and alter a situation in which we were unhappy with the outcome. I have always believed that everything happens for a reason, and though the results of some scenarios may leave us with a bitter taste in our mouths, we must fully accept all that has happened in order to move forward with our lives.

Be it personal disappointment, unresolved conflicts with others or the fact that you simply got the short end of the stick at a time in your life, the harboring of resentment and animosity toward yourself or others will not allow you to progress in all of the plentiful life that is left to live.

We cannot change the past, no matter how badly we may want to. Yet, what we can do is focus on ourselves - on our mental and physical health, our emotional wellness and our overall state of being. Once you allow yourself to enter the mindset of "it is what it is," have faith in the fact that new doors will open to lead you down the path of your true desires.

In the mean time, the best thing one can do to advance from a nostalgic, negative interpretation of the past is to look forward and be the best version of yourself you can be. Happiness may be relative, but it is not something that you should ever let another person take away from you.