These are thoughts and reflections I have had upon reviewing what I have written. The main body of pieces are set very much in the order written and shew the development of thoughts and feelings over the past year or so.

It is possible to see where some of the reflections, in the later work, were presaged in the earlier pieces.

It also shews how the scope of my outlook has grown. How it has widened out from the very insular, introspective approach of the earlier work to a broader, more general approach.

At least, that is how it seems to me.

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Memories only control us
when we hold on to them
and try to hide in them
using them as a shield

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It is we who give memories their importance
they have none of themselves
It is only by letting them affect us
that we give them their power

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Stress lives on the conflicts
between memory and reality

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Accept memories for what they are
not what we wish they were
or insist they were not

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Reaction relinquishes control
Acceptance retains it

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Acceptance is pro–active
allowing challenge….. and change

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The past defines
who we were
not who we are…
…unless we hold on to it
…and hide in it
…or behind it

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When we accept the past
we stop hiding from it,
or denying that it’s there
we break its control

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Acceptance and forgiveness
are mutually dependant
Forgiveness can only happen
when the past is accepted
and blame no longer attributed

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When remembering causes pain
forgiveness is still wanting
pain is a reaction…
and is, therefore, in control
the connection isn’t broken

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