Dear Annie,

When there has been so much of doing and thinking something over years in the same way, naturally it becomes difficult to move ahead in different situations. When you keep thinking of the past and regrets that you had it makes it all the more difficult to look at what is there in the present moment.

The past will continue to have its influence but it need not be the defining one. Every moment is a new moment, every day is a new day. You can start afresh with the dreams that you had. By your actions you can prove to yourself and to others that you are still capable of the promise that you once had.

You wrote that you don’t know if you will succeed, what is it that you want to succeed in?

Any person who starts life fresh has the same doubts and no person knows for certain what the tomorrow holds for them. It is in your small actions today that you create tomorrow. You are a brave person. When many people would have maintained a status quo you took the bold step to move away from a toxic relationship. With time the pain will reduce and as you discover yourself and allow yourself to flourish, you will meet someone who is well suited to your reality at that point in time.

Take care.