You live, you learn, and you learn to forget. That is the easiest way to get through a situation. But what if I told you that it's not that simple?
Have you ever loved someone so much that you can't get them out of your head? Or you can't stop talking about them because they are always on your mind? From experience, it's not easy to forget about someone you once loved.
Forget is a strong word. I'll tell you why... because those memories that you want to forget have made you the person that you are today, and, without them, you're not the same.
If you've ever loved someone, you'll understand what the butterfly feeling is. It is that feeling you get when you are excited to see someone. It is a feeling that doesn't happen with everyone you meet. You may see someone and think he or she is cute, but that doesn't mean there will be a connection. Our minds are crazy, but they can be known as our tour guides of love. As we meet people, our mind turns a switch on or turns a switch off. They tell us who we connect with and who we do not. Research conducted by British neurologists states that they are still unsure why we get the feeling of butterflies in our stomachs when we start to fall in love. When you have that feeling toward a person, my advice to you would be to hold onto it.
Everyone says that they remember their first love. But why? Was it the butterfly feeling in their gut? Was it their first relationship? Or did that person really make an impact on their lives? Mine had a great impact.
The memories we shared will always be stored in the back of my mind. My relationship, like many other people's, helped me to grow into the person I am today. The struggles and simple times taught me several lessons like surrounding yourself with positive people that want only the best for you. Sometimes I think back and wonder what would have happened if I hadn't met that person, but wondering can be very distracting.
Today I found something that is a reminder of the memories that we shared. Have you ever found an object that at one point in your life had such great meaning? Well that happened to me.
Not too long ago, I transferred out of a university that had taught me many things. I learned how to manage my time. I learned how to surround myself with positive people. I also learned that memories are worth cherishing.
As I got out of the shower one morning, I realized I didn't know where anything was. As I was looking for hair gel in the drawers next to my bed, I saw a folded piece of paper with red writing. I began to wonder, "Is that what I think it is?" After continuing to look through my drawer, I found the old door decks that my RA put on the door of my dorm the years I was there, bracelets from the events I went to and worksheets that helped me navigate the campus. I laughed to myself and grabbed the folded piece of paper. I can't explain how I felt at that moment because I was full of so many feelings.
I took a deep breath and opened up the folded piece of paper. It was exactly what I thought it was.
As the memories started to flow through my head as fast as a train, I began to read. The note was full of such nice words that meant a lot to me. When I was done reading it, I couldn't help but smile. It was the first time I stumbled upon something that once had great meaning from my past.
Even though the writer and I are in different places in the world, it is comforting to know that we are connected by our memories. As I continued to look for my hair gel, I found a picture. It was a picture of the writer and I. We were so happy. Looking back through old pictures, the memories continued to flow. The happiness we shared, the laughs we had were all seen through our facial expressions.
Today, as I finally found my hair gel, I realized that forgetting about your past is not easy. Is it possible? Maybe. However, if it weren't for those memories, I wouldn't be where I am today, so maybe I don't want to forget it.
The path you choose is your decision and those choices may come with consequences, giving you the opportunity to learn.
I chose to forgive and grow as a person in order to continue down my own path. Forgetting your past will not help you change it. Embrace it and learn from it. We don't meet people by accident.
Decisions can change your life.
Keep smiling.
