I ran through the water and mud in the backyard in my bare feet. We were playing hide and seek and I was giggling as I ran around looking for them. You know that feeling of so much excitement that it won’t really fit in your body, where you want to wiggle to move the energy? That was exactly where I was at. It was a warm late spring evening, yet there was still water in the backyard from the rain the day before.

When the game was done I looked down at my legs. They were covered with mud and muddy water drops. The mud felt like proof of where I had been, the fun that I had had. I thought about leaving the mud on my legs for the rest of the evening and then realized that I didn’t want to. So, I found the hose and washed my legs off.

As I rubbed the mud off of my legs I thought that this mud was much like past versions of myself. Whatever previously has happened in my life is proof of where I have been and what I have done but it isn’t something that needs to define me for the rest of my life. I don’t have to live with mud on my legs forever just because one night I ran through it when I was having fun.

So, if you have mud on your legs from a fun night, but you don’t want to keep it there just find a hose and wash it off. Your past doesn’t have to define you. It once served you but it may no longer serve you and if that is the case then feel free to make a new reality.