A test of courage

Today I want to talk about the past. Most people tend to look at their past deeds and either use them to bolster themselves up or to hold themselves back. Think about it.

There's the guy who thinks he is better than everyone else because of who he used to be in high school. He was the letter wearing football star and he's still lording it over everyone within earshot about how he is better than them. Look he even has proof! There's his signed mvp ball. And he was homecoming king. Or how about the local chess champion? He's smarter and more important than you because of that one tournament that nobody thought he was going to win.

Or how about the girl who was the head cheerleader? She's prettier and better than everyone else, yes even you and again she has proof. Look at all her trophies. She was uncontested queen of the "in" crowd and acts as if she still is.

And what about all the other guys and gals, the ones who were just middle of the road and didn't accomplish anything great while the others were busy being superstars? A lot of those people look at their lack of accomplishments and beat themselves up about it. They point at their past deeds and say, see I've not done anything of note yet and nor am I ever likely to.

Well, ladies and gentlemen, I am here to say that that is complete bullshit. All of it. What makes me say this? There is a card named A Stout Heart, that is part of the Legends of the Five Rings card game that I'd like to quote. It says " The only true test of courage is the last one."

See the L5R card game is about samurai protecting their clans and their empire from evil. Think about it. If a man stands up against evil five times in a row he is labeled courageous and maybe even a hero. But when evil comes around the sixth time, if he runs and hides then he is labeled a coward.

What a man has done in the past gives an indication of how he is likely to act in the future. But it is not your actions in the past that determine what kind of person you are, just as it is not the actions you intend to take in the future. It is your actions in the present that determine who you are and what kind of person you are.Maybe you made the wrong choices in the past. But every now is filled with new opportunities to make better choices.

You are not the same person you were twenty or even ten years ago. The person that had those massive successes or massive failures no longer exists. You are a completely different person with different abilities and different limitations. Don't look to your past to see what is possible for you.

Except as a source of colorful stories about the way things used to be and maybe as learning experiences, ignore the past.  Create a new now that matches your goals and ideals and never look back.