I'm sure we've all gotten advice about forgetting the past, not worrying about the future and deciding to live in the moment. I can see how people find truth in these statements because I agree with the fact that too many of us feel defined by mistakes made in the past. This shouldn't be the case because each day brings a new opportunity to grow, learn and improve ourselves.

My opposition lies in the fact that there are valuable lessons to be learned from the past, which is why it should not be forgotten. I understand that the past should be left there, and that we need to move forward. However, isn't there a famous saying that those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it? Mistakes have the power to turn us into something better than we were before and improve the future.

I think it's safe to say that we've all had our fair share of failures, mistakes and losses in life. Instead of choosing to learn and grow, some decide to dwell on those bad experiences and let them hinder possibilities in the future. The key to moving on is to remember that there is absolutely nothing you can do to change the past. More harm than good is done when overthinking or lingering on something that you have no control over. Instead of worrying about the past, take what you have learned and apply it towards improving your future.

Those who choose to block out seemingly bad memories from the past are missing out on its full potential. Through taking the time to briefly examine the past, you can move on knowing you are more prepared for similar situations in the future. This can be done by realizing and improving on weaknesses, capitalizing on strengths and looking into relationships that inspired you to be your better self.

An important thing to remember when considering the past is that there is a silver lining in every bad situation. Being able to find the positive side is the key to learning and growing from the unpleasant experiences. Try to live by this quote from author Nicole Williams: "Every morning we get a chance to be different. A chance to change. A chance to be better. Your past is your past. Leave it there. Get on with the future part."