Reflections of Life: Celebrate the Past

Jim Koury is a seeker of inspirational forces. His spiritual journey of self-discovery has revealed many secrets hidden within him related to the very essence of who he is. He embraces opportunities that enable him to learn about his higher self and the inspirational forces that prod him forward to new plateaus of enlightenment and self-revelation.

He is also the Editor/Publisher of Diversity Rules Magazine, an alternative focus publication primarily dealing with the gay community’s concerns and issues, along with issues of diversity generally. He is an activist who is not afraid to ruffle some feathers. His main objective is to get people to think and think for themselves and does not force his views on others but just puts them out there for folks to think about and discard if they wish.

It is requisite that we be a keen observer of people, as we will notice certain things about them. One major common phenomenon I have noticed is that many folks deny their past and are embarrassed by some of the things they have done. While I totally empathize with this position, it is however, imperative that one's past be embraced and celebrated.

One must understand that their past has made them who they are -- good, bad or otherwise. In everything we have done, even what would be considered by others a dire breach of morality and social mores, there is a lesson that has been learned and a lesson that others might need to hear.

We need to celebrate our past. By doing so we can instill in others a sense that they are simply humans on a journey in life -- that they should not be ashamed of the experiences they have lived. Those experiences are part of one's life's tapestry. Denying parts of that tapestry will ultimately betray the denier. They live in fear of their past and become beholden to those that would seek to potentially do harm because of it. Those that do harm are the very same people that hide behind their facade of indignant shame and cast judgment on others. We cannot let harm come to ourselves.

While working on the February issue of Diversity Rules Magazine I featured a movie entitled, “Supernatural” released by TLA Releasing. The tagline of the movie is “He who controls the past controls the future.” I thought about this for a bit and decided it was a brilliant assessment of how we all need to be.

If we continue to not fully accept our past from whence our roots came, we will never be in control of our futures because a hidden past will keep reaching forward, lurching at us to try to destroy whatever it is we are pursuing. We need to control our futures by openly accepting the hidden past and face it squarely and firmly. Doing so will cast those who wish to do us harm elsewhere to some other vulnerable creature cowering in fear who they can try to deceitfully manipulate and control.

We each need to make a declaration of independence from the fear of the past. It will firmly and unequivocally put one in control of their future destiny, unfettered by the influences of the egomaniacal tendencies of others. We must decide that they no longer will control our decisions for the future.

Our futures are to be forged with our life’s purpose in mind. If we allow the wretchedness of those who wish to do us harm to influence those decisions, we are doomed to wander aimlessly in the barren desert constantly searching for the escape to the plateau of our destiny.

The failure to reach the plateau will create frustration, anger and self-doubt and will plague our existence every waking moment. We need to overcome these feelings and drive forward through our personal storms no matter what until the sun breaks and shines brightly and guides us to the path to the plateaus of our destiny.

We must look back on our journey toward enlightenment and transformation with unfiltered lenses. If we do, it will propel us forward to win the battles we wage inside ourselves. We must charge to battle with non weary heart and mind and tackle our inner demons and control them. We will never eradicate them but we must accept them as part of who we are, yet not allow them to control our every waking moment any longer.