Excelsior

So, I did it.  I watched the movie the Silver Linings Playbook and I actually enjoyed it, honestly.  I'm just going to jump right into what got me most.  At one point during the movie, Jennifer Lawrence's character, Tiffany, is flipping out on Bradley Cooper's character, Pat.  She says something that matches my very philosophy on dealing with the worst parts of ourselves and our past:

"There will always be a part of me that is dirty and sloppy, but I like that, just like all the other parts of myself.  I can forgive.  Can you say the same for yourself..?" And I'm going to cut her off there to keep this post PG.

And I think that's significant.  Imagine that.  I was always told you outta differentiate between the past and who you are now, and just move forward.  Forgive, forget, and let go, and move on.

But here's a slightly different conclusion that I reached: You are the sum of everything you have experienced, felt, and done.  Every single relationship, every place you have been, and all that you have accomplished adds up specifically to you.  Each tear, each laugh, and all those scars and stains... through synergy, the combination of all the good and bad, you are you.

I guess what I'm saying is that I, personally, am grateful for the hardships and some of the more excruciating things I've experienced, because those very things have contributed into who I am.  And I like who I am.  I'm happy with who I am.  Even the bad decisions I've made, and the not so sunny patches of my past... all of it.

And let's segue into the second half of this post; it's Pat's favorite word: excelsior.  Rise above.  Get higher.  Excel.  Something he was always struggling to do.  Heck, it was something both of them were trying to do the entire movie.

And it's what we all, mostly, strive to do.  It seems, though, we let the past drag us down or hinder us more often than not.  I could jump into the whole, "Let the past be past, learn from it and be stronger today and better your tomorrow," spiel, but I'll spare you.  Some of us have things there that we'll never forget.  There are some things in our memories we'll never forgive others or ourselves for.  It all circles back to my first point: look at who you are now.

If you take away anything from this post, today, I hope that it's that you are incredible not just because of what you're capable of today, but because you've been enabled by your past.  Most see their regrets, mistakes, and negatives as something that chains them down.  Rather, look at it as something that sets you free to be better (and to excel) because of what it's done to you.

A few of my friends, lately, have told me about some of the things they've gone through, and how sometimes they can't sleep or it just gets to them in the worst ways.  Each of you are incredible and are amazing people, but when I look at you, I see you for the good and bad parts, and I love every bit.

I guess that's just me always marveling at silly stuff and usually finding the silver lining.  And maybe I'm completely off and we outta just totally forget the past and completely move on.

Personally, I think my past has added to who I am (the best and the worst pieces), and has enabled me to do nothing except excel and better myself and the world around me.  So yeah, there's my silver lining to the terrible things about me.

Let the past not wound you today, but enable you, and make you better. 

Fact of the Day: this has been the most ridiculous, stupid winter ever.