--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You can't change the past so change…" description: "\"You can't change the past so change something you can. the future!\" — Erin Merryn" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cff/erin-merryn-29419_can-t-change_you-can-t-change-the-past-so-change-some_831278.png" --- # You can't change the past so change something you can. the… ![“You can't change the past so change something you can. the future!” quote by Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cff/erin-merryn-29419_can-t-change_you-can-t-change-the-past-so-change-some_831278.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cff/erin-merryn-29419_can-t-change_you-can-t-change-the-past-so-change-some_831278.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cff/erin-merryn-29419_can-t-change_you-can-t-change-the-past-so-change-some_831278.png) > “You can't change the past so change something you can. the future!” [Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. We cannot alter past events, but we can influence future outcomes by acting now. **In simple terms:** You can't change the past, but you can shape the future. Key Takeaway Focus on present actions to affect tomorrow. Themes personal responsibility future orientation empowerment Mood determined optimistic Type motivational advice When to use this quote - career planning - relationship repair - health habits - financial budgeting Key Concepts agency time perception decision making Questions to Reflect On - What small action can you take today to improve tomorrow? - How do you cope with regrets about the past? A Different Perspective Changing the future still depends on resources and external factors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Can't change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-t-change/) [Can't change the past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-t-change-the-past/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/future/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [You can't change the past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/you-can-t-change-the-past/) ## Related quotes > [You can not change the past but you can change the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immortal-technique/you-can-not-change-the-past-but-you-can-change-the-future/) [Immortal Technique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immortal-technique/) > [You cant change the past. You cant even change the future, in the sense that you can only change the present one moment at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-wall/you-cant-change-the-past-you-cant-even-change-the-future-in-the-sense/) [Larry Wall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-wall/) > [You can't change the past but you can change everything else. Take your first step toward making a significant change in your life, today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/you-can-t-change-the-past-but-you-can-change-everything-else-take/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [You can't change the past so don't let it haunt you. You can change the future but first you've got to want to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-benatar/you-can-t-change-the-past-so-don-t-let-it-haunt-you-you-can-change/) [Pat Benatar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-benatar/) > [My father used to say that life is what you make it. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/my-father-used-to-say-that-life-is-what-you-make-it-today-is-the/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [You can’t go back, Ever. You can’t change the past. It just is. . . . This is our destiny. Not yours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/you-can-t-go-back-ever-you-can-t-change-the-past-it-just-is-this-is/) [Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/) > [Don't ever think that you can't change the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-bush/don-t-ever-think-that-you-can-t-change-the-past/) [Kate Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-bush/) > [You can’t change the past, it just is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/you-can-t-change-the-past-it-just-is/) [Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/) > [You can't change the past, but you can ruin the present by worrying about the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isak-dinesen/you-can-t-change-the-past-but-you-can-ruin-the-present-by-worrying/) [Isak Dinesen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isak-dinesen/) > [You can't go back, Ever. You can't change the past. It just is." I squint, having no idea what she's talking about. But just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alyson-noel/you-can-t-go-back-ever-you-can-t-change-the-past-it-just-is-i-squint/) [Alyson Noel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alyson-noel/) > [This is what I say: I've got good news and bad news. The good news is, you don't have to worry, you can't change…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-yu/this-is-what-i-say-i-ve-got-good-news-and-bad-news-the-good-news-is/) [Charles Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-yu/) > [And all the things that break you are all the things that make you strong. You can't change the past 'Cause it's gone, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-underwood/and-all-the-things-that-break-you-are-all-the-things-that-make-you/) [Carrie Underwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-underwood/) > [We can't change the past, so we change how people are thinking, feeling and behaving today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-ellis/we-can-t-change-the-past-so-we-change-how-people-are-thinking-feeling/) [Albert Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-ellis/) > [I can't change the past, but one person can change the future - anything can happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-mooney/i-can-t-change-the-past-but-one-person-can-change-the-future-anything/) [Paul Mooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-mooney/) > [I know I can't change the past, but I change the future. I can change, too. And I will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/i-know-i-can-t-change-the-past-but-i-change-the-future-i-can-change/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) ## More by Erin Merryn > [“I lived through this horror, and no one can tell me I have to stay quiet. "I have been silenced long enough, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/i-lived-through-this-horror-and-no-one-can-tell-me-i-have-to-stay/) [Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) > [“I felt like I needed to comfort both the little girl inside me and my mother, assuring them that neither of them could have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/i-felt-like-i-needed-to-comfort-both-the-little-girl-inside-me-and-my/) [Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) > [“She was so upset about a blog that maybe a total of six people read yet had no compassion for her granddaughters who had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/she-was-so-upset-about-a-blog-that-maybe-a-total-of-six-people-read/) [Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) > [“Hiding my pain and acting strong, afraid to cry and show my tears, I struggle with all this years later.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/hiding-my-pain-and-acting-strong-afraid-to-cry-and-show-my-tears-i/) [Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) > [“Along with the trust issues, one of the hardest parts to deal with is the feeling of not being believed or supported, especially by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/along-with-the-trust-issues-one-of-the-hardest-parts-to-deal-with-is/) [Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) > [“So often parents of abused children feel helpless. When a child falls, and scrapes her knees parents can erase the hurt by kissing it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/so-often-parents-of-abused-children-feel-helpless-when-a-child-falls/) [Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) > [“Imagine the message that sent to my sister and me. A cousin violates us, confesses, and walks away with barely a slap on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/imagine-the-message-that-sent-to-my-sister-and-me-a-cousin-violates/) [Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) > [“Because it is so hard, some people wait until they are in their thirties, forties, fifties, or even older before breaking their silence.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/because-it-is-so-hard-some-people-wait-until-they-are-in-their/) [Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) > [“Though no longer living in silence, I continued to carry pain and memories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/though-no-longer-living-in-silence-i-continued-to-carry-pain-and/) [Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) > [“As I faced each tragedy in my life, I learned to reach into the depth of my soul for strength and determination. Through this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/as-i-faced-each-tragedy-in-my-life-i-learned-to-reach-into-the-depth/) [Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) > [“My goal in going public was not to put my extended family to shame, or to get back at Brian for abusing my sister…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/my-goal-in-going-public-was-not-to-put-my-extended-family-to-shame-or/) [Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) > [“By opening the door to my life, it is my hope and mission to shed light on the hidden wounds of abuse, to end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/by-opening-the-door-to-my-life-it-is-my-hope-and-mission-to-shed/) [Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) > [“While my sister and I were reminded we did not cause this pain, it was knowing that because we broke our silence about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/while-my-sister-and-i-were-reminded-we-did-not-cause-this-pain-it-was/) [Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) > [As in so many cases of sexual abuse within the family, it is much more complicated than had it been done by a stranger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/as-in-so-many-cases-of-sexual-abuse-within-the-family-it-is-much-more/) [Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) > [The very first part in healing is shattering the silence,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/the-very-first-part-in-healing-is-shattering-the-silence/) [Erin Merryn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) [Explore all 18 Erin Merryn quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/) ## More Can't change quotes > [Donʹt worry now about what you canʹt change. Rest when you can so youʹll be ready for tomorrowʹs battles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/don-t-worry-now-about-what-you-can-t-change-rest-when-you-can-so-you/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [You can't change your life. This mode in literature goes against the more middle-brown mode, which is about shaping your destiny, changing it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-mccarthy/you-can-t-change-your-life-this-mode-in-literature-goes-against-the/) Tommy McCarthy > [You can't change a man, no-ways. By the time his mummy turns him loose and he takes up with some innocent woman and marries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marjorie-kinnan-rawlings/you-can-t-change-a-man-no-ways-by-the-time-his-mummy-turns-him-loose/) [Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marjorie-kinnan-rawlings/) > [I don't worry about the things I can't change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferran-adria/i-don-t-worry-about-the-things-i-can-t-change/) [Ferran Adria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferran-adria/) > [Congress decides who becomes a citizen and how. To automatically say the 14th Amendment grants birthright citizenship, no, we can't change that. Amending the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/congress-decides-who-becomes-a-citizen-and-how-to-automatically-say/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Though I can't change what happened, I can choose how to react. And I don't want to spend the rest of my life being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tori-amos/though-i-can-t-change-what-happened-i-can-choose-how-to-react-and-i/) [Tori Amos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tori-amos/) > [When a poem is really finished, you can't change anything. You can't move words around. You can't say, 'In other words, you mean.' No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-s-merwin/when-a-poem-is-really-finished-you-can-t-change-anything-you-can-t/) [W. S. Merwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-s-merwin/) > [The only thing one can usually change in one's situation is oneself. And yet one can't change that either-only ask Our Lord to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/the-only-thing-one-can-usually-change-in-one-s-situation-is-oneself/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [I can't change my gender, and I refuse to stop making movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathryn-bigelow/i-can-t-change-my-gender-and-i-refuse-to-stop-making-movies/) [Kathryn Bigelow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathryn-bigelow/) > [But I think it's more that when you're young, you're invincible, you're immortal - or at least you think you are. The possibilities are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-hirst/but-i-think-it-s-more-that-when-you-re-young-you-re-invincible-you-re/) [Damien Hirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-hirst/) > [You can't change t he wor ld f rom t he rear view mir ror.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-roddick/you-can-t-change-t-he-wor-ld-f-rom-t-he-rear-view-mir-ror/) [Anita Roddick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-roddick/) > [You can't change your attitude because you're the champion. I've always kept my feet on the ground and never wanted to change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renan-barao/you-can-t-change-your-attitude-because-you-re-the-champion-i-ve/) Renan Barao > [By the time you're 30, you know who you are inside. You learn to laugh at things you can't change; you learn to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kajol/by-the-time-you-re-30-you-know-who-you-are-inside-you-learn-to-laugh/) [Kajol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kajol/) > [Those that can't change even their toothbrush and pyjamas are trying to change the world! Let us be serious!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/those-that-can-t-change-even-their-toothbrush-and-pyjamas-are-trying/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [The message I'm sending to myself - I can't change the world until I change myself first.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/the-message-i-m-sending-to-myself-i-can-t-change-the-world-until-i/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) [Browse all 311 Can't change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/can-t-change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You can't change the past so change something you can. the future!", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Erin Merryn" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/you-can-t-change-the-past-so-change-something-you-can-the-future/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Can't change" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/you-can-t-change-the-past-so-change-something-you-can-the-future/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cff/erin-merryn-29419_can-t-change_you-can-t-change-the-past-so-change-some_831278.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cff/erin-merryn-29419_can-t-change_you-can-t-change-the-past-so-change-some_831278.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cff/erin-merryn-29419_can-t-change_you-can-t-change-the-past-so-change-some_831278.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You can't change the past so change something you can. the future!” — Erin Merryn", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Erin Merryn", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-merryn/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You can't change the past so...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/you-can-t-change-the-past-so-change-something-you-can-the-future/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-merryn/you-can-t-change-the-past-so-change-something-you-can-the-future/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```