[1923] in Depressing_Thoughts
Re: past mistakes
ambar@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (ambar@ATHENA.MIT.EDU)
Thu Feb 28 15:29:22 1991
Somehow, it sounds as though you're trying to put your mistakes in a
strongbox, lock it, dig a hole a thousand feet deep and drop it in, and
then cover it over. Isn't this ascribing too much significance to those
mistakes? Isn't this too much effort?
I know that when my past mistakes come to mind, if I sit and berate myself
and think "Jean, that was a STUPID thing to do", that doesn't help me
forget--it helps me remember it more! If instead I remind myself that
yes, I was stupid, but it's past now, and the only way I can make that memory
useful is to remember not to repeat it!--I spend a lot less tiem being
depressed. Which is all to the good :-)
Relevant quote from the song which is currently stuck in my head:
"I'm gonna celebrate this heartbeat and keep moving on
Look toward tomorrow 'cause the past is gone...."
(Randy Stonehill, _Celebrate This Heartbeat_, title song)
