Who's along for the ride?

"I think we are well advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be, whether we find them attractive company or not.  Otherwise they turn up unannounced and surprise us, come hammering on the mind’s door at 4 a.m. of a bad night and demand to know who deserted them, who betrayed them, who is going to make amends.  We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget. "  [Joan Didion]

Living an authentic life all comes down to geography--knowing where you've come from, where you are, and where you are headed.  We like to think that the ugly parts of our past are disappearing in the rear view mirror; when in fact, they are sitting patiently beside us.  Wisdom comes when we respect the space they occupy, but are ever so vigilant not to let them take the wheel. 

---