There is a Difference

I thought this up the other day because of some things that I've been hearing recently.

Some people are told that they need to forget their past, or certain bad memories that they have, in order to move on with their life in happiness. Also, that you're past will only bring you down, that the past isn't important, that it is a hindrance to your present actions, or that you should never look back and just move forward.

I agree to that last part to a certain extent, but there is a difference between remembering our past, and letting it control what we do now. What I don't agree with, is completely discarding your past and leaving locked up inside of your head. Sure, there are something that people would rather not remember, and I have my share of those, but you can't completely forget it because it is what has made you who you are now.

Others may judge you based on your past and what you've done, but only you know the reasons behind what you did then and anyone who thinks that they know everything about you without even talking to you; they don't even deserve to be in your thoughts.

Our past is something that we shouldn't ever abandon regardless of it's contents.

_{How can you tell how far you've come, if you don't remember where you've been?}