Forward Movements

The Akan people of West Africa have a saying, "Se wo were fi na wosan kofa a, yenkyi," which literally translated means "There is nothing wrong with learning from hindsight." The Sankofa bird is the symbol for this aphorism. The word SANKOFA is derived from the words SAN (return), KO (go), FA (look, seek and take). The symbol is based on a mythical bird that flies forward with its head turned backwards. This reflects the Akan belief that the past serves as a guide for planning the future, or the wisdom in learning from the past in building the future. Most of us, however, when looking back at the past tend to dwell on what could have been.

Sometimes things, words, or events trigger memories that pull us back into the past and threaten to saddle us with regret. We start in with what we shoulda, coulda, woulda done. What we forget in those moments is that what could have been would have been if it should have been. When we reminisce over past loves, friendships, or jobs, we often forget what caused us to leave the situation in the first place.

Remembering the past is not a bad thing, especially if we glean lessons from it. But the past is not what drives us into the future. It is our energy in the present moment that propels us forward. It is no coincidence that the word moment is derived from the latin word momentum which means cause of motion. The past stays where it is, so it cannot push us forward.

We can, however, bring wisdom and lessons from the past with us. What did we learn about ourselves, the world, or human nature that we can use in the present moment to drive us into the future. Think of it in terms of a car. If in the past you had a car that overheated and you poured cold water into it while it was hot  causing it to crack the engine block, I bet you'd take that lesson with you to the next vehicle. That's how we should live our lives.

If you don't know or have forgotten the lessons of the past, be like the Sankofa bird, turn your head back and pick the jewels of wisdom up all while still flying forward. There's a saying, "When one door closes, another opens," but you can't walk through the next door if you are walking backwards towards the closed one. Love, light, and forward movements.