What Do You Think?
I love having a whole lot of new people in my life. Feels like I have a fresh start where nobody knows my past and I get to start from now. Except for the fact that I know my past and sometimes it's hard to let it go and just be in the present (gift!). So the relationships in my life can be slotted into a few categories.
Known Me From The Beginning
These are those who know everything about me - well most everything - from when I was born until circumstances separated us from each other. So now they will see me as I was when they knew me. So my parents, siblings, cousins, school/church friends and neighbourhood kids will all have different pieces of information about my life and personality. When we meet again after not seeing each other for some time our expectations of each other don't necessarily match the present character. Responses to the reconnection will vary depending on what has transpired for each of us since we last met.
So at the prospect of a reunion of old friends or acquaintances we have a mixture of emotions to surmount. Excitement at the prospect of catching up with someone you remember as fun to be around, anxiety about someone you always wanted to impress, fear at the thought of running into someone who bullied you. All based on the past with no information from the gap to make us think otherwise. This could make for an explosive reunion.
What if we let go of the past and remember that people change everyday - if they didn't they would be dead! and we are about to be introduced to the new version of those people? Then think about how you have changed and if they still see you in the past it's their loss. Poof! there goes all the fear and anxiety leaving excitement because it will be like meeting them for the first time. Who doesn't want to meet new people.
Met Me At College, In My Job, Or Later In My Life
These people see me in the present when they meet me. The only bits of my past are what I tell them or what others who know me tell them as our relationship progresses. If I live in the past and tell my life story the present changes. People see me differently because of what I talk about.
What if I meet someone I want to stay in touch with and they feel the same, then I talk too much and their impression of me changes because of my past? I could say that it shouldn't matter to them what is in my past and if they can't accept who I was they are not worth it. I would be denying myself if I did that. Nobody wants to stay connected to someone who lives in the past and can't move on.
I'm not talking about funny stories or life lessons that enhance our conversation. I'm talking about the regrets and wishes of the past that cannot be changed. You cannot start over, but you can make a new start. Learn the lesson, dump the regret and move on!
People I Meet Today
My favourite people are the ones I meet each day who accept me in the gift of the present and move forward. Some will continue to be a gift in my life, some will need me to be their gift. Others will give, take and move on.
That's not a bad thing. Think of life as a bus. You are on the bus. Other people are on the bus. You have connections with the people on the bus. Some get off along the way and others get on. We have no control of who comes and goes and we need to accept that.
Living in the gift of present means "What is here right now that I can be grateful for and learn from?" If that person who just arrived in my life is annoying me, I probably have something to learn from them and I should focus on finding out what it is I need from them so they will go away or at least stop annoying me.
Gratitude
I am grateful for every person in my life. I have learned that every situation has meaning for me if I will just be grateful and look for the gift. Every person in my life is a gift - even the ones that leave! I will not be sad that they have gone, I will be grateful that they were in my life.
I will show my gratitude by contributing. My life is abundant - my cup overflows. Instead of trying to gather up the overflow I will allow it to touch others and bring them joy and gratitude.
Wealthy Affiliate has given me the opportunity to write and be read, to appreciate and be appreciated, to help and be helped. This community is not just about making money, it's about connections and friendship, helping each other, praising each other, cheering each other on. The money will arrive - once the cake is baked and cooled it will be iced.
In less than 2 months I have connected with over 330 people at Wealthy Affiliate. It's easy to connect because we all have at least one thing in common. What I'm finding also is that many of my followers have much more than one thing in common with me. I am loving getting to know everyone on here and look forward to learning more about how I can contribute to your journey here at Wealthy Affiliate and perhaps further afield.
I would love for you to connect with me on facebook if you haven't already: https://www.facebook.com/cherie.f.hunt
If you haven't followed me yet, I'd love to welcome you to my Wealthy Affiliate network so "follow me" please.
Have an abundant day! ~Cherie
Recent Comments
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very well said I take people for what they are not what they where and what they can become all the best
Thank you Max. Loving this place and the inspiration and support that just happens here! ~Cherie
Hi Cherie!
Beautiful post. We should never allow our past to define who we can become in the future. Nicely spoken! Powerful words of encouragement.
Thank you Steph. It's so easy to just write stuff in this environment! Really nurturing and encouraging. ~Cherie
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Always love yr awesome blog post, thanks very much for sharing, Cherie. ;))
No worries Jewel, I'm glad you enjoy reading as I enjoy writing. :)