Dear Me,

In the wise words of Jim Rohn:

All of us, whether rich or poor, young or old, educated or not educated, are the sum total of all of those people and events that have touched us since first entering the world. Every thought we’ve entertained has had its effect upon what we are now. Every movie we’ve watched had its effect. Every book or magazine we’ve read had its effect. Every TV show has had its effect. Every disappointment, triumph, doubt, dream and love for someone each had their effect. What we are and what we have, we have slowly brought upon ourselves. It is the human tendency to blame someone or something else for our lack of progress—we blame government, competitors, managers, inflation, pay schedules and even the traffic and weather for our circumstances.
Those people and events which have left their mark—whether favorable or unfavorable—are now behind us. What happened even as recently as yesterday is no longer of any consequence, unless we choose to allow it to be. What is of great importance is who and what it is that leaves its mark today, and each day thereafter. What we have been is an established and unchangeable fact. What we can yet become is an unlimited, boundless opportunity. Therefore, do not allow your awareness of past difficulty or failures to adversely affect your current and future possibilities. The greatest value of the past is how wisely we invest it in the future. Let the past be a servant for making the future both more enjoyable and profitable.