where do people fit in our lives?

As people, we can often look back on our past and romanticize the memories we have created. The friends, relationships, and experiences we have shared become a part of who we are, so we hold on to them tightly. However, this can often be a double-edged sword, as those people with whom we share those memories can be stuck in the past and praise who we were at the time. Like ships out at sea, they have anchored themselves to the past and would like for us to do the same. When they realize that we will not, they may ridicule who we are, or even laugh at who we are trying to become.

But, it is natural to want to evolve and grow. We have dreams and aspirations that we want to achieve, and we work hard towards making them a reality. However, the people who are stuck in the past can often slow our progress. They are quick to dismiss our efforts and mock our ambitions, simply because they are comfortable with who we were, and do not want to see us change. Maybe due in part to not progressing themselves; or, recalling that in the past they were in a better position than we were at the time and want to hold on to that feeling. 

It is great to reflect on our past as it helps us to better understand ourselves and why we are who we are, why we do what we do, and why we desire what we desire. Yet, we have to keep moving forward. This is where the people in our present come into the picture. These are the people who are with us in the present moment, and have a different perspective on who we are. They may be apt to ridicule who we were, because they see the growth and progress we have made. They praise who we are understanding how we have moved on from where we started. But, when it comes to progressing further, many will only send hopes and prayers that we become who we desire to become, and put forth no action. They don't necessarily hold any ill will, nor want to see our lives fall apart; however, they aren't ecstatic about the idea of us becoming even better versions of ourselves. They enjoy the way things are. As people floating along on rafts or lifesavers, they are happy to not be struggling to stay above water, and can be content with going in whichever direction the winds and currents of the seas take them. They get us to appreciate and cherish the moment. They get us to reflect on our successes thus far and appreciate the lessons that we have learned through our struggles.

However, it is not just about the present moment. We also have to think about what is awaiting in our future. Here enter the people who will come into, and have a role to play in, our future growth. They acknowledge who we were, because they understand the foundation on which we have built ourselves. They accept who we are, because they see the progress we have made and the person we have become. And most importantly, they actually help us become who we want to be, because they are invested in our growth and want to see us succeed. They are the ship that comes along as we are drifting on our present-day raft. And should we board that ship, they are willing to face the storms and currents of the seas along with us in order to help us arrive at our desired destination.

The people in our past, present, and future all have a role to play in our growth and development. However, we must also understand that those in our present may eventually become people of our past, not being able to move on from what was the present moment at the time. And, those that were people of our future, may become people of the present, not being able to go any further with us than where we are in the present moment. While it is important to hold on to the memories and experiences of our past, we should not let them hold us back from achieving our dreams. We should surround ourselves with people who believe in our potential and support us in our journey towards becoming who we want to be. With this understanding, we can truly reach our full potential and become the best versions of ourselves.

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