An Open Letter to the Past in Regards to the Future......

The Ascent starts now…

1. An act of ascending; upward movement; a rising movement: the ascent of a balloon. 2. Movement upward from a lower to a higher state, degree, or grade.

Every time I sit buckled on board an airplane just prior to take off, the same feeling has overwhelmed me and for many years it’s puzzled me. It’s an overwhelming feeling that resonates through out my body like an electric charge. It’s something I feel so deep that it’s almost hard to express in mere words. It seems comparable to a combination of anxiety and anxious energy. I’ve often related it to a fear of flying or the fear of something. Being that I board airplanes frequently I would have to rule that assessment out. I’ve also reasoned that maybe it’s just the anxiety of wanting to be at my next destination. The fact is that the places I go are places that I travel to often. What makes this entire scenario even stranger is what happens after that initial feeling of anxiety.

As the plane begins to build speed and starts its ascent into the sky, there is a drastic change in my emotion with in. The plane reaches the clouds and the nose of the plane is clearly pointed upward. The only thing you can see is what’s behind you and what you’re leaving behind. For me with this comes the sudden flash of thoughts racing through my mind at light speeds. I often see every good and bad thing that has happen to me from that point and as far back as I can remember. Although it’s never happen to me, I can semi-relate to the person who says his life flashed before his eyes prior to a near death experience. (The mind is such a complicated machine, so dynamic and intricate. The smallest glimpse of something can be remembered and submitted to a sub conscious memory possibly being recalled in dreams and sometimes even nightmares.)

Well, within seconds the plane has risen above the clouds and you’re amongst a sea of white. I’ve often tried to understand the feeling when you’re amongst the clouds. If you’ve ever flown before then you can relate to it. Maybe it’s because of all the movies and TV brainwashing of living in heaven or being with GOD in the clouds. The heavens are compared to the clouds in the bible. If you’re a bible reader like me then you understand the relationship here. If you aren’t you should become one to understand this blog a little more deeply. What exactly is it about the ascent from the ground to above the clouds that brings such peace of mind physically and mentally? Maybe it’s a symbol of leaving your past in the past. Maybe its understanding that your past is simply stepping stones, educational tools and learning experiences to achieve a better future until we reach those symbolic clouds. Maybe it’s an elevation of conscious thought. Maybe it’s putting faith in trusting what your past has taught you that brings the feeling of tranquility. I believe this to be quite profound.

The plane slowly begins to level out as it reaches its cruising altitude. The view from my window is clear in front of me. Are you brave enough to trust yourself? Am I brave enough to trust that I’ve learned from my past and I am ready to embrace my future and what it holds for me? Can it be said if one truly embraces his future then it’s no need to constantly look back on the past. The past is filled with a lot of great memories but a lot of bad ones. But even with the good ones, if we were to linger on those to much do we hinder the opportunity for new ones to be created? In so many different aspects of life, we are merely trying to start an ascent of some form or fashion. Religion, education, career, sports, parenting, relationships, we are trying to achieve a higher level. You have to fail in order to understand what it means to succeed. You can’t start any ascent until you are at least moving forward.

I recognize my past. I have learned from it. I now trust myself and what it has taught me. I am no longer puzzled. No need for plane rides to experience this feeling anymore. Now……I understand.
This is my real life ascent. Will you join me?! If your ascent begins now say it with me,
I AM (ROBERT COURTNEY), AND I AM UNEEK!!!!!