How many times in your life has someone said to you, to someone else, or you have even said to yourself, "You just have to move on." A statement that sounds simple, yet when that advice is directed your way, that's when you truly understand the weight of the words. Simple words that can often carry the world's weight at any given moment.

Moving on has always felt so final to me. It feels like just forgetting or letting go. But, I have realized I have more of a living-on-type personality and outlook on life. Are there things that happened in the past I regret, want to forget, and move on without looking back? That's a big HECK YES, but there are also people I have lost and lessons learned that I pray I never forget.

The truth is, as much we want to leave things behind, all these events are a part of who we are. Our past experiences shape the person we are today for both the good and bad. Every regret, lesson, loss, hurt, and series of events that we experience in our lifetime molds us. I like to think, or at least hope; we learn just a bit from all of these events that lead to shaping the person we're meant to be.

I have seen children lose a Mother, Father, and or siblings. I have seen parents lose children, wives lose husbands, husbands lose wives, etc. The list of painful losses is never-ending. The thing about these losses, ones that they leave a hole that can never be filled; you don't just move on from these. People always say time will heal the hurt, and I believe that to a point. But, the fact is, you learn a new way to live. You adapt to living without these loved ones the best way you know-how.

After a situation or loss, this new way of living will look different for everyone. Let me clarify; I am FAR from a therapist, doctor, or any expert. I only write from my own experiences, and for me, in those living-on moments, it meant taking a hard look at who I was, where I was, who I wanted to be, and really how I want to spend the rest of my days. I can tell you, this often just meant making it to the next day without the hurt or stress eating me alive.

Going through heartbreaking losses or challenging experiences can change you. Looking within during this time takes a lot of faith, strength, and soul searching to get past the hurt, anger, and even resentment. But just taking that time to breathe, pause, and reflect is what living on is all about.

Life can be understood by Looking Backwards; IT CAN only be lived By Moving forwards
-The Rural Notebook

No matter the situation you are living on from, you don't have to have all the answers. There is no timeline, no recipe, or road map. Living on and finding peace and happiness comes when you like yourself and choose to be the best YOU can be. Not when or what others think you should be, what YOU choose to be. No one else is feeling your emotions; why should they be able to tell you how to live your life?

This is your journey; this is your life. So if you want to be happy, don't dwell in the past, don't worry about the future, focus on living on, live YOUR life, and just enjoy the present. In the words of Steve Maraboli in Life, the Truth, and Being Free, “Forget yesterday - it has already forgotten you. Don't sweat tomorrow - you haven't even met. Instead, open your eyes and your heart to a truly precious gift - today.” Just keep LIVING ON one day at a time my friends..