I keep hearing that song by Eddie Money called “I Wanna Go Back” and after the other night of feeling hurt that’s all I wanted to do. I wanted to go back in time and “do it all over.” 

But we can’t and I know that but sometimes I can’t help thinking about what I would have done differently, yet you know why we think that we’d do it better? It’s because we know better now. We’ve learned valuable life lessons throughout the years and hopefully, have learned to love ourselves in a way that we didn’t back then. 

And I think that’s the key as to why we sometimes look back with sadness and regret. We wish we knew then what we know now but we all know that that’s not how life works and I believe that the biggest reason is that back then we didn’t know how to love ourselves, we were taught to love others and put others first.

Picture yourself 10, 15, 20 or more years ago loving yourself unconditionally. Imagine who you would have been if you had. Our decisions and choices would have most likely been very different.

But we can’t go back. We can only move forward.

The past is the past. The mistakes and decisions we made then are long gone and forgiven. We’ve learned that taking care of ourselves is just as important, if not more, as taking care of  others. We are of much more value to others when we can value ourselves.

There are days that “I wanna go back and do it all over” but I can’t and that’s okay. I know how much I’ve grown because I can look back and know how I would have done it differently. I’ve learned from my mistakes and I’m sure I’ll make more moving forward  but that’s life. We learn from our mistakes. 

Here’s to all of us being a work in progress. Give yourself permission to “go back” for a moment to remind yourself just how far you’ve come.

And you’ve come a long way.

We all have.

Thank you, Eddie Money, for an awesome song that’s a reminder for all of us!

Wishing you love and light,

~Anne Dennish~