Sometimes is it good to draw memories from our past, not to nurture regrets or rekindle remorse, but to see if we are progressing or regressing. What lessons have we learned? It has been said that those who fail to learn from the mistakes of their past are destined to repeat them. Situations and circumstances may change in our lives but if our character, and the way we think, does not change, we will always take the old mindset into new situations. Consequently, many who have been in multiple marriages or relationships find some of the same problems in each relationship. You can put a thief in prison, where he or she cannot steal, and if their character does not change, when they are released, they will still be a thief.
Just because a person or group has been set free from physical slavery, does not mean that they will cease to behave like a slave. Likewise, just because masters have released slaves, does not mean that they have ceased to behave like masters. Both the slave and the master must have a mental, emotional, physical, psychological, economic, political, and spiritual overhaul in order to be set free from old patterns of behavior. Wherever there is conflict, hurt, or abuse both the victim and the perpetrator must be offered an opportunity and invitation to undergo a makeover. Otherwise the victims will be revictimized, because they only know how to be victims. Abusers will discover more subtle ways to abuse, and masters will find more sophisticated ways to enslave.
Whichever side of power, manipulation, abuse, slavery, or colonization you are on, our future will depend on whether we can free ourselves and become the bosses of ourselves. A beggar does not have to steal. Parents do not have to abuse and control one another, or their children. Slaves or former slaves do not have to fear masters, or former masters, if they learn to master themselves. Masters do not have to fear retaliation from slaves or former slaves, if they can enslave or master themselves and relinquish the need, desire, or drive to control and dominate others. Our success depends on our ability to discipline ourselves, and break the chains of domination, whichever end of the chain we are attached.