Everything in the present is somewhere, somehow connected to what happened in the past. Over a period of time it’s realized, a thing of past is a thing of past, will remain in past, no matter even when efforts are made to bring it to life in the present, however, even then it will remain in past, from where it came, to where it belongs. Definitely a thing of past is a thing of past and it will always remain in the past.
The good thing is what happened in past cannot be changed, either ways whether right or wrong, over a period of time it does not make any difference in the present.
Better way is to accept the present in it’s present form, then move ahead with the same in mind. Best way is to be a part of the present moment in time in the present, move ahead along with the same in mind with regards to how everything needs to be done in the present.
One of the best way is to get involved and remains absorbed with regards to what is there that's going on in the mind. Desire and dreams remain in a contrast, play hide-n-seek. However, dreams and desire must not affect the mind with regards to what’s going on in the mind at the present moment in time.
A time will come when it will be realized that efforts made till now have got something to do with regards to future and time now is to ascertain future.