GROWING BITTER OR BETTER. WHICH PATH WILL YOU CHOOSE?

As a sojourner, I’ve learned that every step offers a choice: to grow bitter or better. My father once told me he envied my life. When I asked him why, he described all the positives he observed from a distance. But the truth is, I learned to let go of the past, while he clung to his memories like heavy luggage—replaying old hurts and disappointments, weighed down by anger, bitterness, and sadness. The difference wasn’t luck or circumstance, but willingness to release what no longer served the journey.

We’ve all heard that holding onto bitterness is like drinking poison and expecting someone else to suffer. For sojourners, forgiveness isn’t just about releasing others—it’s about traveling lighter. Some might say I’m running from something; maybe that’s true, but letting go has made space for hope, curiosity, and growth. Sometimes, traveling lighter also means leaving behind relationships that only take from you. Carrying those rocks, hoping things will change, will only weigh you down on the road ahead.

Sometimes, there isn’t even a person to forgive—just sadness to witness, or compassion to offer ourselves and others. I know my path is shaped by where I’ve come from, but every journey begins with awareness, and every day offers a new chance to choose how I carry my story.

Every traveler carries baggage—some heavier than others. Life can feel like climbing endless hills with a rucksack full of old stones, each one a regret or story that slows us down. Each time I set a burden aside, or even just shift its weight, I discover a little more freedom. I’m far from my destination, but I’m learning as I go, always striving to become a better sojourner. I stumble, but I rise and keep moving forward. Progress can feel invisible, but looking back, the journey reveals how far I’ve come.

We can’t blame the road behind us for the steps we take today (well, we can but you know the rest of that story. The world if full of sickness, addiction and other dark results of the blame game). The past will always travel with us, tucked away in the corners of our minds, but as sojourners, our focus must be on the horizon. The only way is forward—standing still is never an option for those who wish to grow.

What can you do today to move forward? What burden are you ready to put down so you can live with more adventure, take more risks, and finally pursue the dreams you’ve been carrying? Life is short—let your journey be bold. Start today.