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The People We Leave Behind

"There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind." — C.S. Lewis

This quote hit me hard the first time I read it.  It encourages the reader to keep moving, to take hold of life, and to not dwell on the complications of the past, but instead the promises of the future. However, this quote stuck with me for another reason. I think it almost hurt a little to hear, because when I read this quote, what comes to mind is the people we leave behind.


"Sometimes the hardest part isn’t letting go but rather learning to start over.” — Nicole Sobon

So much of a person's character is a combination of people. They are a combination of their ancestors and relatives before them, a combination of the minds and characters they were raised by, a combination of places that made their dent physically and mentally, and a combination of communities that have united in ideals to create this personality. 


Our life is built on constant change; these people live as characters on a screen or in our minds, often, for longer than they are physically present. We live our lives for this combination, to make everyone proud or to repay them for what they gave us. These people are those you fight for, and they will fight for you. People are not lesser due to the circumstances surrounding them; in the same way, relationships aren’t diminished due to circumstances.


There is often in a state of instability, but when you finally get stability, when you finally get time, does that mean you’ve found the ‘better people’?


I think in the end, life will never be that simple. The people you meet along the way can be the most special people ever. They can be your ‘forever’ people. Personally, I’ve met my ultimate mentors and inspirations along the way. I’ve met my best friend. I’ve met the most amazing people who have changed my life in countless ways.


Yet, as I continue to build relationships, I know even with the stability I have now, I’m still on my journey.


"Nothing is ever really lost to us as long as we remember it." - L.M. Montgomery

Despite these quotes, I believe that barely anything in life will truly be ‘one size fits all’. It will always depend on the person, their stage in life, and their perspective. I think quotes such as Lewis’ fall into this category. I can’t tell you how to interpret this, or how it may affect you. That’s the beautiful thing about writing, it may be different every time someone reads it.


However, to me, this quote reminds me of the people we leave behind—the people who meant so much to me and guided me through life. The people I miss every day, the ones I would give anything for just to have five more minutes with - these people mean just as much to my life as those I get to see every day.


Sometimes, you can’t control how long you get to be with someone. Sometimes, all you have is the impact they've had on you. Unlike the uncertainty of presence, the impact someone has on you stays for a lifetime. So, at the end of the day, for many reasons, some of which out of our control, some of the best people, some of the people we love the most, are also the people we leave behind.

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