The Past Matters.

Author’s note: When I started to this book, and I realized that it had a great lesson so I wanted to write about it.    

Some people have messed up their life, and wish that they could undo their mistakes. Although they can't, the only thing that they can change is their self now, but how do you change when you don't want to change. I have seen this happen to many people in movies, real life, even other books. A great example of this situation happened to a guy named Cole in the book Touching Spirit Bear by: Ben Mikaelsen. The author of this book really showed that the past makes us who we are now.

In this case, Cole was abused when he was younger by his dad so he had anger too. Many kids that were abused when they were younger either are quiet, or they may even be a bully when they grow up. There was an article by a girl that was abused by her dad and she said that since she was abused, it made her take her aggression out on her little sister. Also she says that she was now living her life in fear, and she will always be scarred. This shows that when kids get abused, they put there anger out on someone else.

Afterall how could you over come something like this, you can't change the past. The only thing that you can do is overcome it. Although Cole did heal himself, even though it took him more then one try. For example Opra Winfrey was abused when she was younger. Look at her now, she uses what happened to her in the past to inspire her to help others. Even Cole helped Peter through his depression, his experience at the island made him more sensitive to others.


Once Cole was given the second chance to go back to the island, he did activies to release his anger. This relates to many kids that do sports as in wrestling, boxing and football. By releasing their anger they are using the sport to direct their energy in a positive way. These are great ways to channel their energy rather then having them hurt others or get in to things that will hurt themselves.


Therefore, you can not change the past but you can use your past as a reference to what you will be doing in the future. Opra was a great example, and Cole was going to the right direction. Although he did not realize it right away he eventually figured out that he shouldn't live that way and to help others not live the way he used to. 




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