Years ago, when I came up with the name for my blog posts, you may recall from previous writing that “check your mirrors” was an oft-repeated phrase I uttered when teaching drivers’ education to 15-year-olds. It is a crucial skill, especially when teenagers are behind the wheel. Out of habit, I once reminded my 85-year-old (at the time) dad to check his mirrors while riding shotgun with him. He was oblivious to the other lanes and to my suggestion.
Every morning, we look at ourselves in the mirror.
It matters to most of us if hair is combed, makeup done, teeth cleaned, and face shaved. Some should spend more time looking in the mirror to address nose hairs and eyebrows which need trimming. Once again, I reference my dad, rest his soul.
The mirror is a helpful way of preparing ourselves for a visual presence after we leave the house. However, it is more than just an aide while applying eyeliner in order to avoid looking like a lemur.
Look at yourself right now. Actually look in a mirror.
• Are you at peace with the people in your life?
• Are you making time to be grateful? To find joy?
• Do you make an effort to understand people who do not look like you, live like you, talk like you, vote like you?
• Are you trying your best to change what needs improvement in your life?
• Do you experience empathy even with people whom you do not necessarily like?
• Is your moral compass causing you to be judgmental or guiding you to listen, love, and communicate?
• Before you turn off the light, do you see the person in the mirror you want to be?
Self-awareness is an important word in mental health circles. Daily objective evaluations of our behavior and thoughts and words have the potential to improve our communication skills with others, too.
These may be cliches, but cliches are still facts: our time on this planet is short, and each moment has the potential to do irreparable harm or lifechanging good.
Don’t just look straight ahead when moving forward. Focus has its place, but peripheral vision aided by looking in mirrors can save lives. Take care of yourself, and remember to look out for others, too.
Snyder, Texas, native Sue Jane Sullivan is a retired schoolteacher whose thought-provoking commentary appears occasionally in several West texas newspapers, including The Texas Spur and The Caprock Courier.
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