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Sankofa: The Wisdom of Looking Back
Sometimes moving forward requires looking back
We often associate moving forward with leaving the past behind. We are told to let go of what has happened, stop revisiting old experiences, and focus our attention on what lies ahead. Looking back is sometimes mistaken for an inability to move on, as though revisiting an earlier chapter means we haven’t found the courage to turn the page.
But what if looking back isn’t always about wanting to return?
Sometimes, we need to revisit the past to understand things we couldn’t recognise when we were living through them. Certain experiences make more sense with time. Decisions we once questioned may reveal lessons we hadn’t noticed, while patterns we repeatedly overlooked may become clearer when we look at them from a different perspective.
As we grow and our understanding of life changes, we also begin to see our former selves differently. We recognise what we could have handled better, what we needed to learn, and what we no longer wish to carry into the future.
Moving forward doesn’t always require us to forget where we came from. Sometimes, it requires us to look back with honesty, retrieve the wisdom our experiences have given us, and make room for a more conscious way of living.
