“Memories. Like the corners of my mind. Misty, water-colored memories of the way we were. Scattered picture of the smiles we left behind. Smiles we gave to another for the way we were. Can it be that it was all so simple then? Or has time rewritten every line? If we had the chance to do it all again, tell me, would we? Could we? Memories may be beautiful, and yet, what’s too painful to remember, we simply choose to forget. So it’s the laughter we will remember whenever we remember the way we were. The way we were.”

This post has nothing to do with the movie, but “The Way We Were” is undoubtedly my absolute favorite song from Barbra Streisand (just so you know), and lately I’ve been looking back to the way things were. I’m not saying that I’ve been dwelling on the past. What I have found myself doing lately is making a comparison between the Nia before and the Nia now.

As I look back, one thing I think I’ve noted is the Nia Langley before was possibly…hmmm…happier than today’s Nia Langley. However, to say that today’s Nia is a lot more bitter is too far of a stretch. I think I was happier back then, because ignorance is bliss…in some cases. Now I’m not saying I’m stupid…or that I was stupid. I’m simply saying that I didn’t know as much last year, two years ago, ten years ago…you get it.

“Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death.” -Albert Einstein

I totally agree with that statement. I think it’s crucial to be constantly learning things, ideas, whatever, and it is nearly impossible not to learn something new on the regular basis. As I’ve grown older, I have gained deeper insight on life, the world, people, and even myself. Out of the things I’ve learned, there are many things I like, but there are also many things I dislike (and I’m sure everyone has some likes and dislikes). The only reason why I’m assuming I’m less happy than I was is because I want to change the things I dislike, specifically the things within myself.

“Why don’t you change then?” I am changing. I’ve come such a long way in terms of not being so aloof from people. I’ve opened up…BUT NOT TOO MUCH! I’ve become friendlier. My faith has been strengthened. My love has been deepened, but there is still such a longggg way to go.

“Look at me. Look at me. I am changing. Trying every way I can. I am changing. I’ll be better than I am.” -Jennifer Hudson ‘I Am Changing’

I am totally thankful that I have grown as a person. I’ve realized how important it is to be grounded, especially with the modern-day culture throwing stuff at us. In addition to all of these things however, it’s important that we not only seek to grow now from the people we were, but we should also aspire to continue growing in the future.

Don’t only look back on the way we were. Look at the way we are, and think about the way we want to be. The whole “live for the moment” thing is not a clever thing to do in my eyes. I mean, of course it could be fun, and it may not take a lot of effort or thinking to live that way, but too often it is soooo foolish.

“Where there is no vision, the people perish.” -Proverbs 29:18

Some of you may not pay any attention to the Bible, but I find this text to be true. Invest in yourself. If you’re not at least somewhat preparing for what’s ahead then what are you really living for? Instant gratification? I think that thinking about a long-term goal is, most of the time, more important than satisfying the “right-now” desires.

So, to wrap up this post (which is kind of all over the place…again), use looking back at the way you were to improve the way you are now, and strive to make the way you are now an even better person. I’m looking forward to the future. I have many things planned. Hopefully, the way I will be in the future is the the best person I can possibly be. I wish the same for all of you.

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