Rear View Mirror/Auld Lang Syne

 

  Ahh, times gone by... Learning to live, like learning to drive,  involves the "odd" idea of looking in the rearview mirror.  Very frequent quick glances in the rearview mirror keep the driver in touch with what's going on.  Some say hindsight is 20/20,  but, truthfully, most of us don't do it that well.  We tend to make the same mistakes over and over again.  Maybe we need to look in the rearview more often.  History repeats itself, so if we look in the rearview mirror and see disaster approching, maybe we can avoid it the second time around.
     Looking in the rearview mirror of this past year, watch for the position of key persons in your environment.  If someone leaves the road or changes lanes, you can take notice and be ready for the change. If you look back and see a completely different set of drivers than the last time you looked, be very careful;  someone may be in your blind spot.  And remember, everyone has blind spots.
   

   Try to understand the limited view that you get from the rearview mirror.  Despite your frequent quick glances in the rearview mirror, your primary concern should be with paying attention to what is going on right in front of you.  Driving defensively also involves looking as far into the distance as you can.  Serious accidents can be avoided by looking ahead and planning ways to avoid bad situations.

     So, on this New Year's Eve, take a look in the rearview mirror of your life.  Then take a good look forward.  Plan, pray, and hope for a prosperous and healthy 2011.  Auld Lang Syne.
     What DOES "Auld Lang Syne" mean, anyhow?  I have a little plate hanging on the wall in the kitchen with the words, "Auld Lang Syne" - and some of the music - on it.  And, I always knew that people sang it for  New Year's Eve.  I figured it had something to do with remembering the past and looking to the future...Well, I was half-right...
     Turns out that "Auld Lang Syne" means "times gone by".  So, now you know.  Singing the song, "Auld Lang Syne" is your rearview mirror.

     SHALOM  Y'ALL -  TWYLA