Accepting the Past

Have you ever looked back at your life and had some regrets that you struggle with even today?
It affects you to some degree unless you don't do those things like look at your life and wonder how you got to where you are. But for me, I look back and wonder about those mistakes and hard times and wonder if I can do better, not repeat my actions, learn form them to make myself a better person.
I wonder at times if it is even possible to change for the better or am I fooling myself into thinking I can change. How does it go, a paraphrase from the bible "Act on what you hear(or see)! Those who hear (see) and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like. " I know I used the bible, but I think it is appropriate for what I am thinking. When I look at my life what do I see? I am not just looking at today but at the yesterdays of my life. What do I see from back then that makes me happy and makes me sad, not only me but those who were and are in my life. I don't want to walk away after looking at my life and not change from the experience. I know I have made people sad, people I love, I also made them happy. I want to change the bad things and keep the good things.
How do I know when I have changed the bad things for a better behavior? How do we know, or are we just thinking that we have made changes and in reality the underlying behavior is still there masking itself with good intentions. What a dilemma it is.
So I think what we can do is look good at ourselves and pick somethings out that we are not happy with, examine them, ask the hard questions, accept the truth about it and do something different to change the behavior, thoughts and actions associated with those things. Maybe you or I need help from someone to make those changes. I know the truth can be a devistating thing to deal with but without truth what changes do you think you can make. We need to be honest with ourselves if we plan on being happy and succeeding in life. We may never make up for our past but I think we can make a better past as each day passes if we really want to.
I struggle with my past and what I see, I am determined for myself first and others second to not be the person I was but a different better person I want to be. Whether I get it right or not I cannot answer but I can say it won't be for lack of trying.
I am a better person today for what I have seen from my yesterdays, I am not perfect by far but I am accepting my past and being responsible for it. It is the least I can do........
That is my responibility to those I love and going to love in my life in the days ahead.

The One Standing