It is always fun to take a step back and see how far you have come in a week, in a month, in a year.  I think that reflection is important, because when we reflect, it is almost like we are studying our own history.  I don't believe in looking at the past with regret, miss opportunities, and "what ifs", but I do believe in looking at the past for the milestones, the lessons, and the small things that have gotten us where we are today.

I think it is good to know what has shaped you into the person that you are.  Most people don't take the time to get to know themselves- what makes them tick, what they are passionate about, what makes them sad, what makes them angry- people don't ever take the time to sit back and reflect in the hustle and bustle of life.  When we take time to get to know ourselves and love ourselves, we also learn how to love others.  That is something that has taking me awhile to learn and understand, but that is a whole different post entirely.  Either way- I think is it good to understand small parts of your history.  But, it is a fine line we walk between reflection and regret.  Once we start reflecting, we often start regretting.  As I have learned, regrets are like grudges- they only hold you back.  

I think that if we reflect on our past and slowly start to put the pieces to the puzzle together, we realize that there is a reason for all the madness in life.  The mistakes that we thought we made, really weren't mistakes at all. It is kind of like saying "for every season there is a reason."  Well, for every trial and tribulation we face, there is something to be learned that will help us grow as a person.  As corny as it sounds, sometimes you really just have to learn how to dance in the rain.

So here is to reflecting, but not to regretting.  Looking back, while moving forward.  And understanding that the past is an important part of our future as long as we use at a tool to understand ourselves.