Archive Thursday: I'm not who I was.

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Welcome to Archive Thursday. I love going back over old posts and seeing how they still ring true in the present. Just today I had the priviledge of speaking with a group of people who are overcoming the journey of their past. Although this article was written in 2012, I hope it will encourage you to keep living a life of virtue and integrity despite what the critics say.


Isn't it strange how hard it can be to escape your past?

You know the person you were five, ten, twenty years ago?

The funny part is, we may move on from our past selves in our minds, hearts, and by the forgiveness of God but there's always that reminder. Those people who want to constantly remind you of how you were in high school, college, or "pre" new you. 

Now I'll be the first to admit that I wasn't the nicest person in high school. In fact, I was the classic mean girl right out of the movie. Don't get me wrong, I never made fun of people or made their lives hell, but I also didn't associate much outside of my circle of friends. I never realized my level of "Mean girlness" until after high school when I started dating a guy I'd never met during our years in school together. His girl friends took the news quite negatively asking him why on Earth he would date such a snob like me. 

To be honest, I was shocked. I never knew I came off that way to others and determined to fix that image. 

As that relationship ended and years went on, I found myself maturing and changing for the better. The most drastic transformation came when I gave my life to Christ and determined to live for Him. 

Sadly, for people on the outside looking in, they still try to place the "old" Vonae label on me.

When I go to dinner with friends, they'll make little comments about my attitude or whatever else and I just listen and nod my head. I mean what's the point? I don't have to defend the person I've become. 

The bad thing is, I started believing I was still the same.

It wasn't until two weeks ago as I went for a walk with my dog while listening to my Ipod that I realized,

I'm NOT the same!

Even further, that I didn't have to continue to live by the labels and standards others wanted to put on me. By the grace of God I was changed and changed I will remain. Gone are the days of gossip, mean girlness, materialism, snobbish attitude, and so much more. 

I can and will live in the present and be the new woman God has created me to be. 

I was once a bud, but now I've bloomed into something much more and I refuse to go back.

Will you join me in leaving your past in your past and declare:

I'm not who I was!!

It's so freeing and life changing.

Here's a great song that reiterates just that. Enjoy!