Some People Are Better Left in the Past

Pain will leave you, when you let go. - Jeremy Aldana

Many people give too much importance to holding onto what is important to you and although that is true, I want to focus on the fact that sometimes it is okay to LET GO. A lot of the time the hardest thing to do is to walk away from a situation that doesn't serve you anymore. We get too comfortable with the routine of life.

I am currently applying this to my own life, having gone through a rough break up and still wanting the ex in my life for the pure comfort of having someone in your life that knows you inside out, which has been detrimental in my ability to move on. I was afraid of letting go but I knew I didn't want to be with this person. I know that might sound crazy but I couldn't help but feel that way. Recently (two days ago, haha) I decided to be harsh on myself and cut all ties with the person. Now, I'll have to give it a while before I can say that I have been successful but I know this is the right thing for myself.

I am a strong believer in "everything happens for a reason" and when people show their true self to me, I believe them. You can't change people, and even if you could — why should you? It is not your responsibility to make others better. This was hard for me to understand but once I did, it changed my life. I started paying more attention to myself and improving my quality of life. If I didn't have this realisation, I would not have gotten out of a mentally draining relationship in the first place. Now it was time for me to completely let go and become open to what the universe has planned for me.

I've always felt weak if I let go of people that have been in my life for a long time. A friend of many years recently is expecting a lot more from me than I am willing to give, in terms of time and attention. The feeling of guilt is constant but I had to let them know that I need to be my own priority and it should be okay if I want to say no. That is a right that all of us have and should make use of. We should say no when we don't want to do something. You do not need to feel bad for simply not wanting to do something. And this friend of mine didn't quite understand that, which makes me feel I might need to let go of them too before it becomes suffocating for myself as I already find it hard to say no and disappoint others.

What I have learnt recently is that you must trust your gut and do what feels right to you. Sometimes it's better to let go of people that you grow apart from now rather than later. The longer it carries on, the more resentment you will feel towards them, which could affect the great memories you can cherished even after you let go. As the new year approaches, I want to enter it with a clear and happy mind. I don't want to be looking to the past anymore. I want to feed my soul, not suck the life out of it.

Surround yourself with people that are like-minded with the person you are TODAY, not the person you were when you first met them. You are allowed to change and grow apart from people. Let go and free yourself from the guilt or any other negative feelings you have when you want to do something just for yourself.