Rewriting Memories

I’ve had a rough go of it at certain points of my life, so I thought I’d share a strategy that has been helping me navigate some of those pandora boxes of sadness.

Lately, I've been gallivanting around places that have been emotional minefields. You know, those spots that could summon a raincloud over my head with just a thought. I had two choices: Suppress them or re-write them.

Here’s what I mean:

Instead of avoiding places that once brought me joy and now bring me sadness, I aimed to reclaim them by building new memories there. I’d tow along a friend, or even visit on my own occasionally with the intention of having a new experience that would upstage the tear-jerking ones.

Avoidance, while necessary at times, only perpetuates the power that these negative memories hold over us. But we can seize control of our own narratives.

Of course, choosing the right comrades for these escapades was crucial. The kinds of people who bring meaning, safety, and joy. Perhaps even a touch of hilarit…