Life Lesson Poem

Poem About Letting Go Of The Past

What inspired me to write this poem was my brother. He was going through some bad stuff, but it was fixable. It wasn't as bad as what a lot of people go through in this world. Actually, he selfishly brought it on himself. I tried to talk to him as much as I could, but he wouldn't listen. He refused to let it go. He just kept holding onto it. When I couldn't get through to him, I wrote this poem because I needed to write my feelings down, and this is what came out. Hopefully you enjoy it.

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I really enjoyed this poem. It's so very true. We all have certain regrets or circumstances in life we would give anything to change if we could. Sometimes that is just not possible, and even...

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Changing The Past

© more by Donna

Published by Family Friend Poems July 2011 with permission of the Author.

The past is the past for a reason.
That is where it is supposed to stay,
But some cannot let it go.
In their heads it eats away

Until all their focus becomes
The person they used to be,
The mistakes they made in their life.
Oh, if only they could see

That you cannot change what happened,
No matter how hard you try,
No matter how much you think about it,
No matter how much you cry.

What happens in your lifetime
Happens for reasons unknown,
So you have to let the cards unfold.
Let your story be shown.

Don't get wrapped up in the negative.
Be happy with what you have been given.
Live for today not tomorrow.
Get up, get out, and start living,

Because the past is the past for a reason.
It's been, and now it is gone,
So stop trying to think of ways to fix it.
It's done, it's unchangeable; move on.

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Has this poem touched you? Share your story!
  • TiffanyThomas by TiffanyThomas
  • 4 years ago

Thank you. This poem is so, so, so, so true. I cried when I read the poem for the simple fact that I have horrible heartache and a sad past. I have a son that passed away on December 28, 2006, and he was 2 months old, and I truly wish I could have done that night differently. I'd never wish this to happen to anyone because the feeling of losing a child is the most horrible heartache I ever felt. There's so much pain in my heart. Thank you for the poem. I really, really love how everything is what I really feel.

  • ALAN Araujo by ALAN Araujo
  • 3 years ago

I am deeply sorry about your loss. I have a 15-month-old boy, and I keep thinking what if I lose him. I know we can't live by fear, but these thoughts always come through my mind, and it helps me to be more alert about any threat against him. But it still frightens me to think how much damage what you have been through could cause. I know you will never forget the past, and you don't have to. But I hope that today when you remember your baby you have tears of joy just to remember your baby in the womb and his brief great moments in life.

  • Dean Winchester by Dean Winchester
  • 4 years ago

This poem was very touching and brought the realization that we need to let go of our past mistakes to truly enjoy our current situation. If we keep our head under the blanket of the past we can never truly live where we have made it now. This poem touches me. I know I have made mistakes and know that others have too, but those mistakes should not define us and this poem makes that clear.

  • Reza Akbari by Reza Akbari
  • 5 years ago

We should consider our past situations, habits, decisions and deeds. The past is our teacher for the future. We should notice what we did that made others happy and what we did that made them sad, and then remake the former and avoid the latter. We are in this world to make each other happy and decrease the suffering of human beings.

  • Mystery by Mystery
  • 5 years ago

I really loved reading this poem. It is very realistic. Everyone has regrets that they can't forget/that they can't let go of. They just need to let go and move on. They should start living. We shouldn't do anything to ourselves for those regrets; instead we should learn from them and for anything that happens in the future. We don't want to end up regretting something else.

I really enjoyed this poem. It's so very true. We all have certain regrets or circumstances in life we would give anything to change if we could. Sometimes that is just not possible, and even if we could make up for certain things, we still can't change whatever it is that we regret or the fact that it happened. We can either beat ourselves up or learn from it and continue forward in life with a lesson well learned, becoming a better version of ourselves. I love the way the poet presented this poem.

  • Khanyile Jonas by Khanyile Jonas
  • 6 years ago

So true. Life is full of tragedy. It's just up to us to let go and move on. We deserve better. We are humans that love as oxygen for breathing. The past is just the backstory. What matters is our attitude toward the future.

  • Ciara R. Brown by Ciara R. Brown, vanleer, tn
  • 6 years ago

I was with my grandmother and my three little sisters for 11 years, and I made bad mistakes. I lost everything, and I'm foster care. I think about my sisters all the time. My grandma and my sisters would bring up my past, and I didn't like that, so I started to cut and I ran away 38 times. At the time I didn’t know how to handle my emotions like I do now. I didn't like what I did to them, but it didn't give them the right to bring up my past every time I made a mistake.

  • Anneke by Anneke
  • 8 years ago

Hello,
This poem has made me feel a warmth in my heart. It has been a difficult year with all the uncertainties in the world, and uncertainties that I feel come to play in my own life. Your words were inspiring and I will read this poem if I ever feel cold and alone again.

  • Sooli by Sooli
  • 9 years ago

Really like it, my only sister is going to marry but I couldn't stand this relation. She was the only friend I had, spend all the time together, but now she finds a person, doesn't spend time with me, even no time to talk...oh my God.
But I have to accept it and let her go, making a new world for myself without her.
Never thought how difficult it could be before

  • Jessy by Jessy, Colorado
  • 9 years ago

Walking in the past is a deadly game to play because it's like playing Russian roulette, you keep remembering/reliving those moments until eventually you act upon them. Only to remember that the memories were your false fantasies and that the reality was not worth it especially if you have gotten over the relationship. The hard part was learning how to move on and get over it. I have opened those floodgates and now I realize that I was never meant to be in that relationship forever but only for that time. Opening that door was like opening Pandora's box...it brought chaos..misery.

  • Lucian by Lucian, Washington
  • 9 years ago

It's true that the past could "eat away" at yourself. Both bad memories and good nostalgic ones can have their negative affects on you. Even today, I still struggle trying to focus on the future instead of thinking of tweaking the past and or re-living in it.

  • Katie by Katie, K.
  • 10 years ago

I had to let my cats up for adoption after trying to find them homes to be rejected tons of times. It eats me up and breaks my heart but I realize I can't keep thinking of the more coulds I could of and cry about it cuz it is such a big feeling of loss. I really need to accept it that it's done and there's nothing I could do because my landlord wouldn't let me keep them. It'll always hurt to think about it but I do need to move forward and pray for the best. Or else I'll never get over my guilt.

  • Quan by Quan, New Jersey
  • 10 years ago

Yes!! A great poem to finally let me know why I am still stuck. My ex and I have had a battle especially due to the long distance. In the end, I really feel bad about everything especially the terrible things I said to her. I am seeking closure but I know she does not want to hear from me. Maybe one day. Again, Thank you.

  • Tina Bin Hendi Towers by Tina Bin Hendi Towers
  • 10 years ago

I am selected to say a poem in my school I am stuck I don't know which one to say so I am searching on net here also I can't find a good poem and at last now I have found one.

  • Sarah by Sarah, Bay City
  • 11 years ago

This poem really helped me. I have been best friends with this guy for about 4 years. We started dating about a year and a half ago on and off. We ended up breaking up and I wanted to maintain our friendship because he was an important part of my life. He does not want me to contact him ever again. I am so heartbroken but I know I really have to let go of the friendship and the relationship and move on.

  • Kearny by Kearny, New Jersey
  • 11 years ago

I was married for 12 wonderful years and we were together 8 years before that. We were High school sweet hearts but everything got destroyed when her younger brother came to our house. To make the story short I caught them, my wife and her brother having a relationship, I saw text and video from my basement. We've been away from each other almost 5 years. We got divorced in 2009, most of the times I missed her. It is strange right but I know her heart belongs to someone else, even when I try to date other men and I've been dating a lot and no one is like her. I move on I don't bother her or even look at her cause I'm afraid she'll see thru me what I feel.

  • Kellie by Kellie
  • 11 years ago

I really enjoyed this poem. I am looking for a way to forgive myself for a past mistake. I was married to my husband for 7 years, we started having problems and I had an affair with another man. We ultimately divorced, but 6 years have gone by and we have recently reconciled. Only problem is, is that I am having a hard time forgiving myself for the affair. But he has forgiving me, why can't I?

  • Lillian by Lillian, New Mexico
  • 12 years ago

I really love poems I also write them, I agree about living in the past not good been there before, I've come a long ways from changing my ways and wouldn't want to go back to my past ever! Well I kind of feel like am in it still because I'm in love with a man who refuses to let go of his. It is very sad and hard to love someone who uses his past as a excuse to not love back! so yup! I could go on but very long story! Well I think I'm going enjoy this site I love to read life's stories! So far great poems! Thank you for sharing!

  • Stephanie by Stephanie, Florida
  • 12 years ago

I was married for 12 years and we had two great kids together. My husband decided to have an affair with my blood cousin who was also married and we were the god parents of her two children..been a rough road and finally divorced. I hate what was done to my kids emotionally. I will forever and always have trust issues. It's funny that they didn't last but three 3 months, but they swore it was love! Why are the ones to get hurt always the last to be able to move on?? I guess because for the innocent mate, we didn't chose the path of turmoil and heartbreak. Love the poem!

  • Va by Va
  • 12 years ago

This story touched me because I'm in a residential facility and I always focus on the past but now I realize the past is the past.

  • Bryanc by Bryanc
  • 12 years ago

Thank you for the great poem. I am a drug & alcohol addict, who lives in recovery. I have a lot of very bad past, and pending problems from my addictions. In order for me to live in recovery I had to surrender my life to god, and not live in the past. God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Thank you your poem touched my heart.

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