--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: not dealing with the past,” she said, “is…" description: "\"“not dealing with the past,” she said, “is like having a skunk in the middle of your living room. You don’t notice it after a while, but everyone aroun..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/amy-k-sorrells-50661_life_not-dealing-with-the-past-she-said-is-li_2153830.jpg" --- # not dealing with the past,” she said, “is like having a… ![“not dealing with the past,” she said, “is like having a skunk in the middle of your living room. You don’t notice it after a while, but everyone around you smells it, and it rubs off on folks who visit, and no amount of tomato juice baths will ever wash the stink away. You can only bury the past…” quote by Amy K. Sorrells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/amy-k-sorrells-50661_life_not-dealing-with-the-past-she-said-is-li_2153830.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/amy-k-sorrells-50661_life_not-dealing-with-the-past-she-said-is-li_2153830.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1d4/amy-k-sorrells-50661_life_not-dealing-with-the-past-she-said-is-li_2153830.jpg) > ““not dealing with the past,” she said, “is like having a skunk in the middle of your living room. You don’t notice it after a while, but everyone around you smells it, and it rubs off on folks who visit, and no amount of tomato juice baths will ever wash the stink away. You can only bury the past when you acknowledge it and don’t allow it to sidle up against your leg no more. Even then, digging the hole to bury the thing is hard work. It’s the hard work of healing most folks never want to do.”” [Amy K. Sorrells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-k-sorrells/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Avoiding past trauma spreads its impact to others; confronting it is necessary for true healing. **In simple terms:** Ignoring past hurts harms everyone; face it to heal. Key Takeaway Confront and wounds, don’t hide them. Themes healing responsibility relationships Mood reflective somber Type advice personal growth When to use this quote - family gatherings - therapy sessions - workplace conflicts - friendship circles Key Concepts psychology emotional labor self‑awareness Questions to Reflect On - What past issue are you avoiding? - How does your avoidance affect those around you? A Different Perspective Healing can be painful and may reopen old wounds. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Living room](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living-room/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“The more you talk about it, rehash it, rethink it, cross analyze it, debate it, respond to it, get paranoid about it, compete with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/the-more-you-talk-about-it-rehash-it-rethink-it-cross-analyze-it/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [“Englishmen do love to bury one thing so completely in another that the two can only be separated by force: peanuts in candy, indigo…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-hill/englishmen-do-love-to-bury-one-thing-so-completely-in-another-that/) [Lawrence Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-hill/) > [“We’re told that dealing with our past will free our futures. 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