**The column below represents the personal views of the student journalist.
I remember laying in my bed late at night through old messages and pictures from people who aren’t even in my life anymore. At first I was smiling, but then I started feeling sad because I realized how much things had changed. I kept rereading conversations and thinking about what I could’ve done differently or said better. The more I looked, the worse I felt. That’s when I realized I was so busy holding onto the past that I wasn’t even paying attention to what was happening in my life right now.
It made me see that sometimes you have to let go and move on. Moving forward is better than holding on to the past because holding on to old mistakes, memories, or relationships can prevent personal growth, happiness, and new opportunities. People shouldn’t hold onto the past because it can mess with their mental health and keep them feeling sad or stressed. When you keep thinking about old mistakes or relationships, it makes it harder to be happy in the present. Holding onto the past can also stop you from growing as a person because you’re stuck on things you can’t change.
Research even shows that constantly living in the past can negatively affect mental health. According to mental health studies, overeating is connected to higher levels of depression and obesity. The National Institute of Mental Health reports that teens who struggle with negative thinking patterns are more likely to deal with stress and emotional problems. This proves that holding onto the past doesn’t just hurt your feelings, it can affect your overall well-being too.
It can even affect your current relationship since you might compare new people to old ones or have trust issues. For example, if someone got hurt in a past relationship, they might push new people away or assure the worst. Even if the new person did nothing wrong. Overall, moving on is healthier because it helps you focus on better things and become a stronger person.
Some people believe holding onto the past is important because it helps you remember lessons and memories. They think your past experiences shape who you are today, so you shouldn’t just let them go. For example, remembering past mistakes can stop you from making bad choices again. If someone failed a class before, they might study harder the next time. If someone trusted the wrong friends before, they might choose the better ones in the future. Others feel that holding onto memoirs of life, homes, or good times keeps those connections strong. Positive memories can bring comfort and remind people of how much they’ve grown. Learning from the past can be helpful, but only in your present life.
People shouldn’t hold onto the past because it can hurt their mental health, stop their growth, and affect their current relationship. Even though the past can teach lessons, staying stuck on it only makes life harder, but what matters most is learning from them and moving forward. Letting go allows people to focus on new opportunities and better experiences. Overall, moving on is the healthiest choice because life keeps going and so should you.