When I go back and look at photos from certain periods of my life, I can see something in them that’s no longer present in my life now.  No… it’s not an old haircut or an out-of-date outfit that I’m glad is long gone.

It’s innocence.

People most often associate innocence with childhood.  When you’re young and everything about the world still seems new and exciting.  But although this is true, the innocence that I’m referring to is when you’re life is going along great and you really don’t have any major problems to worry about… whether you’re aware of it or not.

When I look back through photos from just ten years ago, I see someone who still had both their parents, a good job, pretty decent health, good friends and a nice place to live.  Of course life wasn’t perfect, and I still had problems like credit card bills and the dramas of dating.  But when I look back now, I can see a sense of innocence that I didn’t even know was there at the time.

After you go through something significant and life-changing like a destructive/abusive relationship, the end of a friendship, health issues or the loss of a loved one, your life is forever changed.  When multiple events like this happen at one time, it changes who you are at your core.  It is pretty much impossible to go back to the person you were before because the world as you know it has changed.

But that’s not to say that it’s a bad thing.  Having gone through such life-altering events myself, I feel that I am truly stronger now because of them.  I also have a stronger relationship with God and a better (I think) perspective on life and what is really important.

Sure, there are still times when I look back at my life before those things happened and realize that I didn’t know how good I had it “back then.”

See that’s the thing about innocence… you don’t know it when you have it.  Most of us are usually too caught up in our day to day lives to really realize how good things are… until they aren’t.

But even though those days may be gone, I still can be present and be grateful for the good times now.  And if anything, be more appreciative for them now because I am more aware of the preciousness of every moment.

So for those of you that are blessed to still be in the midst of your “innocence”…

Relish in it.
Enjoy every day.
Tell those around you that you love them.
And be grateful for your blessings.