In author Jodi Picoult’s 2010 novel “House Rules,” several characters take turns narrating from their own perspective. It’s an effective way to learn the inner feelings and struggles of the various individuals, and we learn that one of the characters, Emma, is particularly plagued by fears and regrets about her life. This quote is said to her at a moment when she’s feeling particularly anxious about the passage of time, and wishing she had acted differently with her children over the years. It’s the perfect reminder that the past is, as it’s often said, in the past — it cannot be revisited or changed, and by dwelling on it, we risk missing out on all life has to offer in the present and future.