People aren’t perfect, and when given the power to make choices and decisions, they can make mistakes. Too often these lapses in judgement alter people’s perceptions of us, whether or not they should.

In life, we are tasked with making decisions; some take days or weeks and others only minutes. Occasionally, the decisions we make are not the best and they can have consequences and affect people in unexpected ways. 

The people who usually bring up the thing you did are most likely your friends and the people who look down on you for it as well. Yet what you did somehow clouds the way you once felt about them, which is acceptable in some degrees but it shouldn’t be a lasting feeling. 

It’s easier to forgive than to forget. 

The process of moving past one’s mistakes is fundamental in maturing. Casting shame and disapproval hinders growth and causes the wrongdoer to endure guilt and regret. Reaching out to that person and providing them with useful advice, however, is a better approach to the situation than shutting them out. 

We all have those regrettable moments and we are all guilty of participating in things that may not be the best idea. However, instead of bringing people down because of it, lift them up and offer advice to move on. We wouldn’t be the people we are if our lives were perfect and no mistakes were made. You grow stronger by making mistakes and learning from them. There is knowledge gained by realizing how your actions can also affect others. Life is a learning experience with errors and forward progress to be made. 

It isn’t our place to cast shame on one another for doing the same thing you’ve once done, but instead, lift that person up, give them advice and move on. 

There’s no use in dwelling on the past. You can’t change what happened, but you have all the power to change what will happen.