One of the greatest things about life are the stories that unfold from personal experiences.
If you think about it, from the moment we are born (sometimes even before that depending on when you believe life truly begins) until the day we die, we experience things in life that become a part of our story. And these stories, they differ from one another. Some are filled with extreme heartache others are filled with complete joy. Then you have some that are composed of a mixture of the two.
Either way our stories are proof of our humanity. Proof that we have walked this earth, we have tasted this air, we have seen and lived through change, and have found a way to make sense of this blissful thing we call life. We have found a way to make a personal connection to life and the many surprises that come with it. A connection that is tied to our hearts, tied to our souls, and has given us the strength to see our journey through until the end.
But the really unforgettable thing about being human, is all the ups and downs we all go through in life. We all have great times that we love reflecting upon, and we all have horrible times that we wish we could erase forever.
You know what I’m talking about.
Those times where we were completely taken out of our element, and forced to be uncomfortable until freedom was ours once again. Those times where we wish we could go back and do differently what we had done, because only then would a different result be the outcome, which would have probably have changed the whole course of our lives since that moment.
I’m talking about the times when we look back on those moments, and we tell ourselves that whatever we did was a mistake.
It’s ok, like I said we’ve all been there. I’m not too fond of my mistakes either. And if I’m being honest I often times do think about having the chance to go back to certain moments in my life, and changing what I had done. But I wouldn’t do it even if I could because I wouldn’t be who I am if I hadn’t made those mistakes. Having the ability to make right something that you thought was wrong is a very powerful thing to possess, which is why for the most part such an ability doesn’t exist.
Instead we have what we call redemption. Which I think is a far better skill to have than being able to physically go back in time and make your wrongs into rights. Redemption allows for us to regain control of whatever it is we feel slipped from our grips, and be clear of any negative feelings losing that control that may have created. It allows us to in a sense make right our wrongs. But we do so by doing things differently than we would have done before because we have learned from our mistakes.
That’s what redemption is all about to me. Learning from your mistakes and being more conscious and aware of your actions moving forward from that moment.
Whether we like to admit to it or not our mistakes are a part of our journey, which is of course the foundation for our stories. When I think of mistakes in my life that I have made, I think of decisions I made that I didn’t necessarily want to make, but I did so out of feeling pressured. I think of actions I put out in the world, that were not an accurate representation of my character. I also think of moments where I got too caught up in whatever was going on that I didn’t take the time to step back and see the bigger picture, so I ended up missing out on something great.
When I think back about all those moments, those things I would consider a mistake, I think of where those experiences took me in my life. I realize that those decisions, those moments, and those actions all are a result of where and who I am today. I’m also aware that I have evolved as a person, and I know better now than I did then. I have learned from my mistakes.
However, the one thing I can say came from those mistakes is the pride that I carry on my shoulders, and the unconditional ambition that I have today.
The mistakes that I have made in my life are a reflection of the journey that I have taken. Yes, they are things that I look back on and I wish I had a little bit more willpower, and was a little bit more headstrong to make the choices that I really wanted to make. But I found a way to forgive myself for those mistakes through redemption, which to me has made my journey all the more special.
My point is, learn from your mistakes and if they truly eat away at your soul, strive for redemption, not the would have, could have, should have mindset.
Our mistakes are what makes us human, what defines our humanity. What has transformed us into the amazing individuals that we are today. Be thankful for them, as I am thankful for mines.
And from this point forward don’t let hesitation or fear be the reason you’re tempted to do something that you know you will look back on and feel as though it was a mistake.
Instead, be strong, be brave, be courageous, be confident, and be powerful in everything that you do. After all, those are the makings of a great warrior.
-Xo
Kimora