Letting Go of the Past to Build a New Beginning
Holding onto the past can feel like dragging around a heavy backpack full of rocks. It slows you down and makes moving forward harder than it needs to be. Letting go isn’t about pretending the past didn’t happen. It’s about releasing the pain, guilt, or anger that no longer serves you so you can step into something better.
It is a powerful choice, the first step toward a fresh start and a brighter future.
In The Samaritan’s Patient by Chevron Ross, the main character, Paige Abernathy, is a high school senior whose life falls apart after a website leads to an unexpected tragedy. Her world crashes around her, and she loses her friends, safety, and sense of self.
But Paige doesn’t stay stuck. She escapes to a homeless shelter, takes on a humble job, and meets people who help her start again. With courage and grace, she takes responsibility for her part in what happened and begins an 800-mile journey across Texas to make amends.
Let’s take inspiration from her story and learn why letting go matters.
Why Letting Go Matters
Emotional Baggage Weighs You Down
Regret, sadness, or old anger can take up a lot of space in your mind and heart. It becomes a hurdle in your personal and spiritual growth.
You Stay Stuck in the Same Patterns:
When you hold on too tightly to the past, it’s easy to repeat the same thoughts, choices, or fears. Because we always find comfort in seeking familiarity rather than taking a new route.
It’s Easy to Miss What’s Happening Now
Looking back all the time makes it hard to enjoy the present or notice new opportunities. You can’t fully live today if your mind is always stuck on yesterday.
It Affects Your Relationships
Past pain can create walls between you and the people who care about you. Letting go helps you connect with others in a more honest and loving way.
You Can’t Grow if You’re Held Back
True growth begins when you let go of the version of yourself that’s tied to old mistakes or pain. You have to release the past to become the person you’re meant to be.
What Changes When You Let Go
• You Feel More Peace: Letting go of guilt or anger helps you feel lighter and more at ease.
• Your Mental Health Improves: Anxiety and sadness can ease when you stop reliving painful memories.
• You Make Room for Growth: Letting go creates space for new experiences, people, and possibilities.
• Relationships Get Stronger: Forgiveness helps you connect more honestly and kindly with others.
• You Focus Better on What Matters: Without the past holding you back, you have more energy to move toward your goals.
A Story That Brings This to Life
As Paige’s story in The Samaritan’s Patient explains, letting go is a process. It doesn’t happen overnight. But each step you take, whether it’s talking to someone, forgiving yourself, or choosing to stop reliving a painful memory, moves you forward.
If Paige’s story inspires you, visit chevronross.net to explore The Samaritan’s Patient, a moving novel about redemption, growth, and the grace possible when we face our past and choose something new.