Why is it that no matter how long a vacation, it never seems long enough? Well, this is my first week back in the upper midwest after being in Virginia last week for my little brother’s BOLIC graduation. Military ceremonies always keep me in awe because i’m never really sure what to expect until its over. This one was no exception. The special guest speaker was very interesting. He was a very down to earth and common sense kind of person. He gave not only the graduation lieutenants something to think about, but for anyone who was listening he had lots of wisdom to pass along. One thing he mentioned is something that i’ve always been very interested in.. “become a student of history.” I love history. I will always remember the sign hanging in my high school library “those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” Its a fine line though. I mean its great to remember what people before us have done and to keep proper perspective on whatever you might currently be going through but it can also be harmful to spend your entire life constantly looking backwards. I’m probably more guilty of that than most people. I am quick to forgive others for wrongs committed against me, but I can never seem to forgive myself for when I feel like i haven’t lived up to my own expectations. This is especially true for relationships. I’ve spent a lot of time remembering the past and stories from growing up on this vacation but it helped me to realize that i also spend too much time looking back at past relationships and thinking about what might have been or how much i might regret the way things went or how things turned out instead of paying attention to how things are now.
Here’s a quote that i found interesting, “A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow.” – William Shakespeare