Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-08-02
Which Rules You?

Don't live too much in thu
past, but look with confidence
toward the future. If mistakes
there be, profit by them. Dc
not allow some of the action Of
one unguarded moment tC
shackle you for life.
In one of his magazines
Bcrnarr MacF adden has the fol
lowing editorial, Living Down
the Past, which may contain {
message of cheer to some down
cast soul;
The past is a great bugaboo
to some people.
To others it is an inspiration.
1t depends largely upon the in
dividual viewpoint-not always
upon its special character.
We all make mistakes. Some
are able to learn from them-to
use them as stepping stones to
higher and better things. 9th
ers are weighed down by them
almost beyond recall.
Therefore, the influence of
your past, whether for good or
evil, depends upon your attitude
towards it.
We are all human and not
necessarily infallible. And re-
CARELESS of the difficulties asso-
ciated with living down your past,
do not lose heart.
You may feel disgraced SEEM
ingly beyond recall. You NAV
have committed sins that you be-
lieye will never be forgiven, but
the greater your mistakes the
more you should be able to learn
from them, and the more deter
mination you should try to arouse
to better your status.
Anyway, the past is gone. 1t
is dead beyond recall. You may
harbor it, cling to it, but unless
it inspires, uplifts, strengthens,
you should drop it as you would
any dead thing.
Do not shackle yourself to
corpse of the past. 1t is dead and
gone. You cannot alter it. Let
the dead bury its dead.
Remember that today is yours
to use to your best advantage.
The future also belongs to YOU
and what you do today will in
fluence your activities tomorrow
and many tomorrows to come.
But that particular part of the
past that is not an inspiration
should not be allowed to handi-
cap your efforts. The past has
made you what you are. Your
body and your character have
been moulded by it.
But every day we are to a
certain extent made over. Each
year finds US different in body,
character and soul, and those who
allow the past to drag them
down are in the grasp of a bad
mental attitude.
Therefore, if you want the fu-
ture to be different from the past,
If you want to benefit by the
mistakes which you have made,
Sc ethat each day represents an
up-building force.
Occupy, your mind with that
which builds character, determi-
nation.
Make your body strong with
exercise and wholesome food,
and then you will possess the en-
ergy needed to fight the battle
Of life.
Thus you can redeem yourself,
cleanse your soul, strengthen
your body and mind, and regard
less of what the past may have
been you should ultimately be
able to look the world square
~ in the fact with the feeling
that victory is within your reach.
The Salvation Army lass tell:
her street audience that "A
MAN may be down, but if he
real man, is never OUT"
A wise man may burn hi:
fingers once; only a fool the
second time. Experience is a
great and wise teacher, If we
would but heed her voice.
The beauties of the sky, the
trees and the flowers are seen
by him who looks up and on.
Gutter gazing reveals only the
filth, scum and refuse.
Look the world in the face,
give every man a square deal
and demand the same from him.