There’s something in the air when you look back on the winding path of history—a sense of what might have been, mixed with the sober truth of what was. All of us, at one time or another, find ourselves wishing we could tweak a key moment or nudge a decision in a kinder direction. Yet, no matter how much we hope, yesterday remains untouched, carved in stone.
That’s a wisdom historian Heather Cox Richardson often shares. She has a knack for drawing the through lines between past and present, showing us that although we’re powerless to rewind the tape, our choices right now are vibrant and alive with possibility. It’s comforting—and daunting—to remember that our actions today are the ink with which tomorrow’s story will be written.
History, with all its epic turns and heartbreaks, can sometimes feel like an endless list of “what-ifs.” But Heather gently reminds us: while we can’t mend the roads that led to past heartache, we can always choose a new path forward. The weight of what’s been doesn’t have to define what’s yet to come.
So, as we listen to the echoes from those who came before us, let’s truly hear their lessons. They can’t change our future—only we can. The past serves as a guidepost, not a prison. And every new dawn offers another chance to set things right, for ourselves and for those who’ll come after.