You may have seen the popular quote about living like a river that has been shared online countless times and in various forms. Here’s a version I shared on LinkedIn last week:
“Rivers never go reverse. So try to live like a river. Forget your past and focus on your future. Always be positive!” – author unknown
As I noted in my LinkedIn post when I shared the above quote, I understand its core message, “don’t let the past hold you back,” and I absolutely agree. However, I also do not want to forget my past.
I want to remember my past, both the good and the bad. Wisdom, one of the most priceless and cherished assets in the world, comes from those experiences and memories.
I love what my LinkedIn connection Karen Harris said in the comments: “While the river moves forward, it still carries some things along with it… debris or fallen limbs or maybe people in a raft who love the river.” What a perfect picture of our lives as we move forward!
Like a river, we continue onward—reverse simply isn’t an option—but as we move forward we carry along with us a host of experiences, lessons learned, and wisdom picked up along our journey.
So absolutely focus on your future and what lies ahead around the next bend. But do so while wisely and purposefully leveraging past experiences, memories and lessons learned to propel you forward. Don’t forget your past. Learn from it!
