And I've been a fool and I've been blind
I can never leave the past behind
I can see no way, I can see no way
I'm always dragging that horse around…
And it's hard to dance with a devil on your back
So shake him off, oh whoaFlorence and the Machine — Shake it Out
When I continue to carry the past with me, when I keep on dragging that horse, and when the devil is still on my back, I cannot dance. I cannot find serenity.
My recovery includes shedding the burdens of the past, letting go of old resentments, forgiving the hurts done to me by others and amending the hurts I did. Only then can I shake the devil off my back.
A meditation for December 6, 2012.
I view this song as an anthem to recovery, but if you watch the video, you will see that the message is more ambiguous. Read it how you will.