Throughout the course of our lifetime we get thrown into situations that leave a lasting impression on us whether they are positive or negative. For example if we have a negative experience about something that memory alters our present and future changing our lives forever. As well as having a bad influence on you. It leaves a lasting impact and sticks with you. It is like having a heart, it is with you forever until your time’s up to life on the earth. In the movie “A River Runs Through It” the director is depicting the idea that an individual’s life can be altered by a particular experience through the character Paul who was a very feisty and outgoing guy but really had no control over his anger.  When we are overtaken by a particular scenario from the past is it better to remember the wonderful past or leave it. Is it a fun memory for the ages or is it like a burden that stays with you and changes the way you act?

 Sometimes we can not apprehend what is going to happen in the future. Especially when it is a complete life changer. In this excerpt “from Rock and Roll Jihad” the author is portraying the main idea through the main character Salman Ahmed. He is just new to the country of America and is still trying to adapt to the culture. What better way to do that than go to a concert. Once the band started playing Salman felt alive he felt in the moment and absorbed all that energy. The concert was one of the best experiences of his life and making the arrival to America that much better. This very concert shaped Salman’s life forever. He fell in love with the music so much that he wanted to pursue a career in that industry and make that his life. I wanted to play music for the rest of my life”. This is saying that maybe some things are meant to be and you are put into situations that will shape your life. This is significant because it shows us how little things can really make a man’s life and in this case Salman Ahmed just went to a concert for fun, little did he know that he was going to like it so much that he decided to pursue a career. This shows us how certain life experiences can be altered by a particular experience. 

Not every experience in your life will be a good one to remember and some you want to forget but you really can not. In the film “A River Runs Through It” the author is showing us how Paul’s bad actions from when he was younger were the same habits that got him put into the ground. When Paul was a child he always used to misbehave and pick fights with people regardless of the size of the other person. But no one stopped him and those same experiences made him the naughty person he was and eventually led to his death. Paul once again got into a scuffle with other men and they did not want to hear it. Paul’s stupid actions got him beaten to death. If he had stayed quiet and analyzed the situation realizing that enough is enough maybe he would have been alive. This shows us how Paul from a young age was just the same rowdy kid and that those experiences shaped him to be the individual he was in the future. 

A time I can relate to this idea presented is when I travelled to India with my family a few years ago. We were supposed to go for 3 weeks to India. We planned on meeting with family since they have never seen me in real life(only through pictures). But I did not like the idea of going somewhere that is very hot and has no internet. Being away from social media was going to be a huge bum and I know wouldn’t fit in with the people from my village there as it was my first time going. I caved in and went to India. All I have to say is the best experience ever. Taking a break from social media and going back to my families home was awesome. I met new people and we shared the same interests in sports, we had an air conditioner so the warm air was not much of a problem. This is significant because this shows how some experiences can really shape you future. Me going to India resulted in me into becoming a nicer person. Donating to the people in need made me a better individual. Now I always try something first before denying it due to the wonderful experience I had with India. 

 When we are put into situations is it better to keep it with you or forget about it? Salman Ahmed decided to change his life due to a positive experience. Paul died due to having a negative experience. And for myself going to India was a positive experience. I believe we should not forget about the past and keep it with us in the future. Lettig things go is hard, but it will help your future if you fix them.