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The halcyon days of happy childhood, the comfort and warmth of family life and memories of days gone by gives us reason to live with the past as part of our tapestry of life. For the less fortunate, the past only serves to bring back memories of heartache, poverty and even abuse, the kind of history they would happily forget. Living with the past means different things to different people and is very much shaped by their own experiences in life, good or bad.

Living with the past is always going to be more of an issue for those who had to endure a very difficult childhood, especially those who suffered from physical, verbal or sexual abuse. Some unfortunately never recover from the horrific experiences of the past and as a consequence never experience the true happiness they deserve. When the past proves to be a painful memory, it takes great personal strength to live a normal life, perhaps in establishing relationships, building a home and raising a family.

Some deal with the past by tackling it head on and opening up their feelings to trusted friends and family while others remain private, keeping their feelings bottled up inside. Sadly, others have concluded they cannot live with their past and taken their own lives through feelings of despair and hopelessness. Those people who have been guilty of abuse conspired to take away a person's feeling of worth, their happiness and in some cases, their life.

Desperate people who have been the objects of an abusive life in the past need the love and support of those who truly care for them. Dealing with a frightful past can have long term effects that some take years to overcome, if ever. The strength they can draw from those around them is invaluable in learning to cope with unhappy experiences. The genuine concern of friends and family can restore a person's faith in humanity and encourage positive feelings of self-worth.

Amid the unhappy experiences, it is likely that there are also many happy memories that can be used as a means to live life once more. If the past is too distressing to remember, try to focus on those times when you found genuine happiness and pleasure. Positive thinking is an easy thing to suggest but is more difficult for some to apply than we might think. When feelings of despair and depression run deep, it can take a long time for a person to discover a measure of happiness again. simply encouraging such a person to "cheer up" is not enough under their trying circumstances.

It is tragic when a person struggles to live with the past, especially if they are in no way responsible for the actions that lead them to feel hopeless. The blame lies squarely with the abusers who abused a trust as well as a human being. When people in their early lives suffer at the hands of those who should love them, it is a heavy burden to bear. Yes for those who remember nothing but happiness in their childhood, living with the past is a pleasure. Sadly, for others who had to endure abuse of one kind or another, living with the past is a trial.

Learn more about this author, JC Campbell.
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