I am so thankful for the memories i get to look back on and smile about because they add so much color to my life and tell a story. Even the not so good ones have been great teachers so still i am grateful for them because i know i needed the lessons. The same goes for experiences. That said, i know i am one those people who can get stuck in nostalgia if i am not careful. You see, memories are great but i realized there's a risk of missing out on what is present or miss out on creating new experiences, if you hold onto them too tightly.
There is also a tendency of making our memories more grand and magical than they actually were, when we are nostalgic. This is often common when it comes to romantic partners that we have parted ways with, forgetting that actually, it did not work out for a reason however nostalgic we may be feeling at that particular moment.
We do not always get to hold onto the loves of our lives (and personally i do not believe love conquers all), we do not always get to keep that dream job or avoid that illness that almost killed us. Sometimes the best thing you can do for yourself and another is to let them go and just be thankful for the time you shared. Sometimes you have to find a new job so that you can learn and create new things and sometimes recovering from a bad illness makes you appreciate your life even more.
I have found that when i am truly thankful for an experience or memory (both good and bad) there is never a feeling of sadness or regret...only peace because it happened and i got to live it.
Xx
