Our past is full of lessons and gauges that we can use to ensure we are writing a narrative that is informed by our past but not leading us to repeat it. If we choose to cover up our past we also cover up the lessons and the gauge. Our past has value, our past is our story and our past is just that our past. Referencing our past removes it's control over us and places it in a place in our life of reference and lesson only which is why white out doesn't work!