As the years pass, we often believe time heals all. Yet, time is a peculiar entity, subtly shaping us in unexpected ways. The preferences we develop – the desserts we savor, the music that resonates with us, the sports we choose – are often echoes of past influences. We find ourselves mimicking small gestures, like the way she twirled her fingers, or the disorder that once seemed characteristic of someone else's space, now a feature of our own homes.
Our interactions with others, the language we adopt, even the quirks we once playfully criticized in someone else, begin to manifest in us. We evolve, sometimes unconsciously, influenced by past relationships and experiences, becoming amalgamations of our own selves and the people who've touched our lives, regardless of whether they're still with us.
Happy Valentine's Day.