Somewhere Over Laredo by Lainey Wilson
Learning to Appreciate the Journey
There comes a point in healing when the memories no longer carry the same weight, they once did.
You can think about the places you've been, the people you've loved, and the dreams that didn't unfold the way you imagined without feeling like you're reliving the hurt all over again. Instead, you begin to see those chapters for what they truly were—pieces of a much larger story.
That's what Somewhere Over Laredo by Lainey Wilson reminds me of.
This song doesn't make me think about wanting to go back. It makes me think about looking back with compassion. There is a quiet peace in realizing that every road I've traveled—even the ones I never wanted to take—helped shape the person I am today.
Healing has taught me that closure doesn't always come from someone else's apology or explanation. Sometimes it comes from realizing you've grown beyond the version of yourself that was waiting for one.
There were seasons of my life when I believed my story was ending. I questioned my worth, my strength, and whether I would ever truly feel like myself again. Looking back now, I realize those moments weren't the end at all. They were simply the beginning of a new chapter I couldn't yet see.
Like driving down an open road, life keeps moving forward whether we're ready or not. Along the way, we collect memories—some joyful, some heartbreaking, and some that become bittersweet with time. Not every destination turns out the way we planned, but every mile teaches us something.
I've learned that healing isn't about erasing the past. It's about carrying it differently.
The memories still exist. The lessons remain. But they no longer define every step I take.
Instead, they've become reminders of my resilience.
When I hear Somewhere Over Laredo, I'm reminded that it's okay to smile at memories without wishing to live in them again. It's okay to appreciate the roads that brought you here while still looking forward to the ones you haven't traveled yet.
Sometimes healing looks exactly like that.
Not forgetting.
Not pretending it never happened.
Just quietly thanking the journey for everything it taught you and continuing on with a heart that's a little lighter than it used to be.
Reflection for you…
Is there a place, a season, or a chapter of your life that you can now look back on with peace instead of pain?
Healing doesn't erase our past—it changes the way we carry it.
