Can you use your nasty past to inspire others? / myLot

Nairobi, Kenya

August 14, 2016 8:14am CST

I have come across several people who are ready talk about their past life in order to inspire others.I have heard some religious leaders openly talk of how they were once robbers or street persons but have since reformed and so are out to inspire others that your past can in no way determine your future. But there are other people who don't like talking about their past maybe they are yet to get over it or they let bygones be bygones.I have this friend who was jailed for two years after being charged of stealing and selling scrap metal from his employer's garage.Though after he was jailed,he earned a scholarship for his studies from an NGO dealing with prisoners,he has never agreed to say what really happened for him to be jailed.

3 people like this

5 responses

Sky

@skysnap (20152)

•

14 Aug 16

The thing with anyone using their past to inspire others is that people in this world use you an example to avoid the obstacles. And they don't even remember you. So if that person wants to help himself, better he keeps that past to himself.

1 person likes this

waflay

@waflay (2737)

• Nairobi, Kenya

14 Aug 16

I think they do it by choice and are ready for what follows after.

1 person likes this

Sky

@skysnap (20152)

•

14 Aug 16

@waflay out of empathy I assume. because real life is jungle. better to avoid using yourself as an example.

@acelawrites

@acelawrites (19272)

• Philippines

14 Aug 16

It is their way of repenting so other people will not do what they had done; yes, to inspire them.

1 person likes this

waflay

@waflay (2737)

• Nairobi, Kenya

14 Aug 16

This goes a long way into inspiring someone else out there.

ida123

@ida123 (6206)

• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines

14 Aug 16

Why not? If it can inspire others, I'm glad to share my bad experience to others so that it is an eye opener for them, it helps them to avoid such circumstances.

1 person likes this

waflay

@waflay (2737)

• Nairobi, Kenya

14 Aug 16

Its true a lesson that you learnt the hard way can still enlighten others.

1 person likes this

JB_girl

@sol_cee (38669)

• Philippines

14 Aug 16

Rag-to-riches stories are inspiring.

1 person likes this

waflay

@waflay (2737)

• Nairobi, Kenya

17 Aug 16

True because start from somewhere before climbing the ladder.

Manisha

@ms1864 (6882)

• Bangalore, India

14 Aug 16

Well, inspire might not the right word here. Its more like a cautionary tale...don't you think? But yeah, I do think sharing our past mistakes with others can be helpful to them....so they don't need to make the same mistakes to learn. They have the advantage of escaping the consequences of the mistake. But yeah, some people are not ready to learn like that...some can't learn until they have made the mistake.

1 person likes this

waflay

@waflay (2737)

• Nairobi, Kenya

14 Aug 16

Inspiration comes from even the negative side of anything as well as the positive one and it depends from what side you want to look at it.