It’s official. September is half over. Instead of wondering where the time went and requesting a refund for the first fifteen days, I’m choosing to keep moving forward—even in my thoughts. (So I’ve been planning something for October that I hope you’ll want to join me in, but I’ll tell you more about that sometime soon!)

How often do we do that, though—move forward externally but bemoan the past internally? We regret wasted time, missed opportunities, and unfulfilled plans. Even positive accomplishments in the past—if over-emphasized or grasped too tightly—can drown out current opportunities that are loudly and pointedly calling our names.

Lessons from the past should propel us into personal life changes in the present that will lead to possibilities for impacting others in the future.

The Apostle Paul said it best, even admitting at the outset that he didn’t always get it right:

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize….” —Philippians 3:13-14 (NLT)

Learn from the past and implement those lessons in the present—today!—for even though you must press on into the future, you are only certain of this moment. Nothing will trip you up faster than walking through the present looking backward!