Do you have that friend, relation, or partner who keeps bringing up your past or reminding you of mistakes of years ago?
We all have a past and the last thing we need is someone who keeps reminding us of moments we wish to forget.
It may be something very embarrassing or moments of regret, nevertheless, we don’t need people to keep pushing these things on our faces. Occasionally, the best response for such a person is to ignore them.
However, we will need to speak up when it becomes necessary, especially if they become disrespectful.
In this post, I’ll be discussing 30 things you can say to someone who reminds you of your past.
30 Things to Say to Someone Who Brings Up Your Past
When people bring up your past, you need smart comebacks that should shut them up. Depending on your relationship with them, your response can vary.
You can choose to express your annoyance or calmly let them know they’ve got to stop. Here are 30 things you can say:
1. I’m not looking back, I don’t know why you should
When you have a past that you wish to move past, one of the healthy ways to achieve that is to keep yourself from dwelling on the incident.
And if someone keeps reminding you of what you intend to forget, one of the things you can say to them is, “I’m not looking back, I don’t know why you should.”
When you give your friend or colleague this reply, it should get them to change from the act if they care.
2. If you keep mentioning my past, I’m afraid you’ll become a part of it
Another thing you can say to someone who keeps mentioning your past is to threaten them that they can lose your friendship.
If it’s a friend or a colleague, you can warn them that they would become a part of your past if they keep mentioning it.
If it’s someone who cares about you, they’d know it makes you feel bad and should stop.
3. Don’t you have better things to do than dig up buried things?
When someone brings up your past you can express your annoyance, letting them know you’re pissed off with their attitude.
One of the things you can say to them is to ask them if they don’t have better things to do. This is an expressive statement that’ll work well in showing you’re pissed with them.
In addition, letting them know they keep digging buried things should drive home the point well.
4. If you can’t look at the new me without seeing the old me then you’ve no business in my life
Another thing you can say to someone who brings up your past is to let them know they’ve no business being with you.
Whether they’re your partner or friends, this is an effective statement that expresses how hurt you’re by their attitude. Someone who can’t see the new you truly shouldn’t be in your life.
So, you can make this statement to them to let them know you’re ready to let go of them if they keep on with the bad air.
5. The past belongs to the past, please let it remain so
Another way you can respond to someone who brings up the past is to plead with them to stop.
Telling them to let the past remain in the past should get them to think better of you if they care about you. You can say this to your partner or a close relation of yours. In this way, they’d understand you’re hurt by their attitude
6. I don’t regret the person I used to be
One of the things you can say to someone who reminds you of your past is to let them know you don’t regret your old self.
“I don’t regret the person I used to be” is an effective statement you can use. Not only are you letting them know you don’t regret the old you, but it also expresses your strong will to move on from your past.
This statement can continue to help build your self-esteem and make you strong mentally.
7. I know I have become a better person, so what you think doesn’t matter
When someone reminds you of your past, let them know you’re aware of it and have also become a better person. Also, tell them what they think of you doesn’t matter to you.
“I know I have become a better person, so what you think doesn’t matter” is an incredible thing to say to them.
It can work on a colleague or someone you aren’t close to, dismissing them and letting them know you’re better off without them.
8. If you’re looking for the old me, I’m sorry to disappoint you
Another effective statement you can say to someone who keeps reminding you of your past is, “If you’re looking for the old me, I’m sorry to disappoint you”
This statement shows that you’re not allowing your past to define you. It proves to them that you’ve changed and what they think or say doesn’t matter.
9. Maybe you’ll just head back to the past and exist there?
One of the ways to handle someone who keeps bringing up your past is to be sarcastic with your reply. “Maybe you’ll head back to the past and exist there?” is a smart retort that should get them off your back.
Whether they’re your partner, friend, or colleague, this statement will work in showing your annoyance and should bring them back to order.
10. Why don’t you check the morgue? You may find the person you’re looking for
Another sarcastic comeback for someone who reminds you of your mistakes is, “why don’t you check the morgue? You may find the person you’re looking for”
You can use this statement on anyone to remind them that you’ve changed from the person you used to be.
Telling them to check the morgue would make them understand that they need to look more closely to see the new you.
11. Why haven’t you changed with time? It seems to me you’re still living in the past
“Why haven’t you changed with time? It seems to me you’re still living in the past” is another proper thing to say to someone who throws your past in your face.
This is an effective comeback that should work in making them understand you’re no longer the same person.
12. I see you love the past so much, why don’t you live in it then?
Another sarcastic reply for someone who brings up the past is, “I see you love the past so much, why don’t you live in it then?”
This comeback can work on anyone acquainted with you. It’ll work in expressing your annoyance and also remind them that you’ve moved on.
13. I would love it if you don’t keep reminding me of my mistakes
One of the things you can say when someone brings up your past is to be direct with them.
Telling them you’d love them to stop reminding you of your mistakes is a direct approach that should make them understand you’re not happy with the behavior.
If it’s someone who cares about you, the statement should get them to be more cautious with what they say.
14. Can’t you leave the past where it belongs?
One of the proper things to say to someone who brings up the past is, “can’t you leave the past where it belongs?”
This is a direct statement you can use on your partner, friends, family, or colleagues.
15. This attitude isn’t healthy
Remind someone who keeps bringing up the past that the attitude isn’t a healthy one. Perhaps the person doesn’t know it hurts you or they feel they’d help you become better by reminding you.
So, you can tell anyone who keeps throwing your mistakes to your face that it isn’t healthy.
16. I have become a better person, and you should too
When you tell someone who keeps reminding you of your past that you’ve become a better person and they should also, it should get them thinking.
This statement is effective in making them rethink and work on their attitude.
17. My scars don’t define me
Another appropriate thing to say to someone who brings up your past is to remind them that your past doesn’t define you.
A statement like, “my scars don’t define me” is one that lets them know you’re no longer affected by your past. Saying this will also help you to keep moving on.
18. I don’t care what you think but if you care about this friendship, then you should stop
You can warn your friend that they’d cease to be your friend if they keep reminding you of your past.
“I don’t care what you think but if you care about this friendship, then you should stop” would work in letting them know that what they say doesn’t affect you.
Also, it’ll get them to think more about their unhealthy attitude.
19. You hurt me when you do this
One of the things to say to someone who keeps bringing up your past is to let them know you’re hurt when they do so.
What we need to heal from our past is not a constant reminder of it. So, tell your partner, a friend, or family that their attitude hurts you. If they care, they should change.
20. I have moved on, can’t you?
Ask someone who keeps bringing up your past if they can’t move on since you have.
This is an effective reply that should let them know you’re no longer affected by your past and it shouldn’t bother them also.
21. Oh yes, I know I did badly, haven’t you too?
When you acknowledge you did badly in the past, it’s a good step in healing effectively.
So, acknowledge you’re aware of the mistakes you made before the person who reminds you of your past. Then, ask them if they haven’t also done badly. This comeback would shake them and bring them to order.
22. Why exactly do you bring up the past?
When someone keeps bringing up your past you can ask them why they do so. Maybe they’ve got a reason that’s unknown to you.
When you do this, if their reason is to taunt and mock you, it should get them speechless and get them to stop.
23. Why do you judge me for a one-time mistake?
Another thing you can say to someone who keeps reminding you of your past mistakes is to ask them why.
“Why do you judge me for a one-time mistake? ” is a straightforward statement that expresses your hurt with their attitude.
24. Do you have a problem with the new me?
Another effective reply for someone who keeps bringing up your past is, “do you have a problem with the new me?” This is one question that will surely rattle them.
If they’re your close relation or your partner, you can sit them down and ask them this genuinely. This statement would get them thinking about their attitude towards you.
25. You should grow up
“You should grow up” is another thing you can say to someone who keeps bringing up your past.
This is a direct statement that should work with a friend or colleague in reminding them of their bad attitude.
26. Why do you keep opening closed doors?
When you ask someone who keeps bringing up your past why they keep opening closed doors, it should bring them to order if they care about you.
You can sit your friends or family down and ask them this question. It’ll work in getting them to have a reflection on their attitude.
27. If my past bothers you so much why don’t you stay clear?
Another thing to say to someone who keeps bringing up your past is to ask them to stay clear if it bothers them.
This is an expression you can use on your friend or colleague and if they care about you, they should work on their ways.
28. If you keep holding on to the past, you won’t grow
You can advise the person who keeps bringing up your past. “If you keep holding on to the past, you won’t grow” is a statement you can use on them to get them to reflect on their attitude.
This response can work on anyone, whether your friend, colleague, or partner in getting them to change.
29. You can do better than this
“You can do better than this” is another thing you can say to someone who keeps bringing up your past.
This is an effective statement that drives home the point that their attitude is unhealthy.
30. You act like you have no past
Everyone has a past. So you can remind someone who keeps bringing up your past that they also have one.
“You act like you have no past” is an expression that should work, especially on someone who you know about their past.
Final Thoughts
When someone brings up your past, it’s either they wish to taunt you or hurt you badly. Also, some people may do so with no bad intentions.
However, you’ve to bring the person to order, especially if they keep on with the attitude after you might’ve ignored them. Depending on your relationship with them, you can say any of the things above to them.
In addition, you shouldn’t hesitate to quit a relationship with someone who wouldn’t change from an unhealthy attitude.
Also Read:
