Your past is your life up until this point. There are many past quotes that show we all do things that we regret, and it is what we do when we make mistakes and how we recover that defines what type of person we are. Living in the past is a big mistake because when you keep looking back you are missing out on opportunities today. No matter what deeds and secrets your past holds as long as you are alive you still have time to make amends. Sometimes the past can haunt us and professional help may be needed to deal with this problem. If your past includes being the victim of violence or abuse then you may be traumatized by your experience and this can require an extended time to recover from.