living in the past

When do we know that a person hasn't learnt any lessons?
Most times, it's obvious if you know where to look.
We find clues in verbal and non-verbal cues.

When a person accuses you of "LIVING IN THE PAST" only because you choose to be unresponsive, then that is a cue. Logically, if anyone is holding a grudge from the past, that grudge will definately prevent the accused from moving forward.
If the accused has moved forward in leaps and bounds, then how could we say the accused is living in the past?
The phrase "LIVING IN THE PAST" infers that a person is stagnating, which isn't so if the variables in that person's life has seriously changed for the best.

We learn valuable lessons from the past - and that's why we strive to improve our lifestyle and social standards.

So for those who have offended family or friends and would like to make amends, telling them that they should forgive you because if they don't, then it means they are living in the past is out of context.

The first sign of having moved forward, is to have made progress.
And frankly, unless the accused is a person who needs social validation, that is certainly not the way to bridge the years.