At this stage, reflecting on life is normal. We can look back and view our successes, our failures and put them into a frame of understanding. What we did right and why, and what we didn’t get right…
These are all important for understanding our strengths, weaknesses and how we reacted to life at various stages of our growth.
Yet looking back can monopolize headspace if you start down that rabbit hole. While there are definite lessons to be learned, it’s certainly more benign than looking into the future.
Looking forward holds a much more treacherous but exciting path.
The future holds our expiration date, like a dusty can of peas tucked in the back of the grocery shelf. It’s not something we look at with positive expectancy. However, between now and then, we have the opportunity and responsibility to live with richness, joy and purpose (however you define those words).
In my life, I have some ideas in mind for things I’d like to learn or try.
For example, I’ve never learned how to play the game of Bridge. While I have no idea whether I’ll like it, I’m curious to try. When it comes to art, my interest has always been in music. But I would like to try another medium, just to see.
I don’t want to live with regrets. Also, I wish to leave a legacy for my children and grandchildren of someone who was curious and willing to try new things.
If I’ve learned anything, it’s that I can’t move forward if I devote too much time looking back.
