Life is a funny thing. When we are living in the moment we feel our emotions with full force; when we are unhappy we can never see that there will be light at the end of the tunnel, when we are in love we can’t picture life without that euphoria, and when we are happy we can’t imagine any other way. We believe wholeheartedly in our youth, and the spot in which we stand right then and there.
But isn’t it amazing that when we have the power of time on our hands that we look at things in a different light? I spent some time reading some very old posts if mine this week, with the view to work out how my writing has improved and how I can strive for more, and I felt myself wanting to turn back to hold my younger self’s hand and tell her everything would feel better soon.
Maybe it’s the invincibility of youth. Maybe it’s the nativity of younger years. But maybe we can learn from how we felt and how we reacted, and pull it forward to make ourselves better people.
I have had so many emotions running through my veins; the fear and adrenalin of striking out – ending a relationship, moving to a new city, leaving a job. Vie felt devastating sadness of ending relationships that I thought would last forever, both romantically and platonically (and more recently felt a shadow of that sadness when I read through posts from during those times) and I’ve seen extreme joy – the birth of my god-daughters and the pleasure of watching them grown into tiny people and experiencing their unwavering love. I’ve felt the winds of change and the waves of destiny; stepping off a plane in a country I’ve never been in and being aware of the opportunity in front of me and the chances I might have, and all of these things have shaped the person I’ve become.
Now I’m a bit more serene, yet a heap more confident in myself. I don’t care so much about what the world thinks about me, but am more confident in my belief in myself and being comfortable in my own skin. And I’ve learnt that however forceful the feeling s, however intensely you feel it, it will dissipate. It won’t vanish, but you will come to get used to it, and it will feel like an old friend. Comfortable and consistent. I miss my Granddad each day and although it creeps up on me sometimes and I feel it as keenly as the day he died, mostly it hugs me and holds my hand and I smile wistfully.
How has your life and experiences changed you as a person?
Tinkerbelle 
A very wise ad thoughtful post. It has me thinking in a new direction.
You always ask the hard questions my friend! 🙂
I’m afraid I’ve been through a lifetime of hell, but now I’m limping along and happy, if VERY alone! 🙂
Sometimes the best we can do is survive – and pray that life will get better.
Love and huge hugs my friend, I admire you immensely!!! 🙂
Prenin.
Oh my life and exoeriences have changed me for sure – in fact I’m not sure there is any part that has remained the same. Even my name. Ha! I actually worked in a small dispatch office once where there were four dispatchers and two of us were Paul. This got way too confusing when we were negotiating deals and pricing all day with customers (“But Paul told me…”) and the other Paul had seniority sooo…, they made me change my name. In all fairness they allowed me to pick, so I chose “Phil”. And so began the reign of Phil for 4 years until I changed jobs. Then I went back to Paul.
I’ve been thinking about this quite recently as well, and this post echoes my same thoughts precisely. It’s like I’m reading something I would write. Thank you! 🙂