Reflection: “Casting back a light or heat, mirroring, or the returning of light or sound waves from a surface.”
The word can be personalized and the meaning shifts somewhat: “Looking back, setting aside time to think about, evaluate, and give serious thought to our behaviors, motivations, thoughts, and desires.”
Personal reflection is a deep form of learning. Reflection asks the question why do we feel this way. Reflection allows us to examine and evaluate experience, why something happened, and should it happen again. We reflect on the good and bad in life and seek value and meaning.
We examine our lives through reflection. The founder of Western philosophy, Socrates (died 399 BC), understood this when he wrote, “The unexamined life is not worth living.” Such introspection typically increases as we age, however it is valuable at any stage of life. Self-reflection helps us:
(1) Meditate on our character, actions, and motives.
(2) Build self-awareness when done regularly.
(3) Provide new perspectives on life issues.
(4) Bring clarity to complex situations.
(5) Motivate to change direction if needed.
(6) Foster a sense of well-being through understanding our values and priorities.
Recently the 2024 Grammys aired on television where Joni Mitchell sang her signature song, “Both Sides Now.” At 21 she had written the song with a wisdom beyond her age. At the Grammys her voice at age 80 brought tears to millions of eyes including mine, as she sang the words that had grown old with our generation. As I listened to her, one of the worse rain storms ever in Southern California pelted the roof of our condo. In the midst of the insistent storm, I was mesmerized by the aged wisdom Joni Mitchell brought to the stage coupled by the melodic sounds through which she gifted insights into ourselves. She brought beauty and introspection in the midst of the storm. A moment of reflection.
Her voice shared a recognition, a familiarity, a definition of life, and a raw honesty expressed through the power of words that are much more than the sum of their parts.
But now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say I’ve changed
Well something’s lost, but something’s gained
In living every day
In 2015 Joni Mitchell suffered a near fatal brain aneurysm.
I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It’s life’s illusion I recall
I really don’t know life at all
As we reflect back on our lives, we all know that it gives us both sides…the exquisite and the excruciating. At times we experience both in the same moment. Joni Mitchell’s song speaks in ways that are at times charming and innocent and other times brutally honest. She encapsulates the experience of living for so many of us.
Roes and floes of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I have looked at clouds that way.
Ah, the joy of holding a new born grandchild. The pride in watching the same child graduate from high school. Cotton Candy at the Fair. The sound of an old friend’s voice. Holding loved ones close. Get well cards while in the hospital. 60 years of shared married life. Travel. Adventures. Quiet moments.
“Ice cream castles in the air,” indeed.
…But now they (clouds) only block the sun.
We all experience dark clouds of one sort or another. Physically harmed or disfigured. Rejection. Failure. Dementia. Cancer. Lost job. Loneliness. Why?
Life confuses. Why are some blessed and others not? Goals thwarted. Goals met. Dreams unrealized. Wildest dreams surpassed. Rapport. Misunderstanding. Gain. Loss.
The self-reflection that aging offers reveals the complexity, contradictions, and ups and downs of life. The poetic words of Joni Mitchell ring true:
I have looked at clouds from both sides now.
I really don’t know life at all.
We may never have all the answers. We may not know life at all. And yet, old age reflection and examination teach that it is in the journey itself where dark clouds “block the sun” and “feathered canyons” fill the sky that make it all worthwhile.
“Both Sides Now” song by Joni Mitchell. CLICK HERE.
Written by: Hartzell Cobbs
About the Author: With a sprinkling of exuberance and vitality, Dr. Cobbs is an accomplished author of three books and numerous articles published in different venues throughout his life. Dr. Cobbs’ first book, Thanatos and the Sage: A spiritual approach to aging (2008), offers a thought-provoking interpretation of the interplay between how to live life with meaningful intentions and the eventuality of coming to terms with death. His second book, RavenWind (2019) delves into the raven’s role as it relates to Native American myths, legends, and folktales and global history. His reflections on the spirituality of living and dying depicted in his books are threaded throughout the short essays posted on the website for “Smart Strategies for Successful Living” and in his latest book, The Moon at the Window: Senior Reflections.
Check out these heartfelt and inspirational books…
The Moon at the Window: Senior Reflections: CLICK HERE.
RavenWind: CLICK HERE.
Thanatos and the Sage: A spiritual approach to aging: CLICK HERE.
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- Unlock the secret to a happier, healthier lifestyle by delving into additional captivating articles on our website at: Smart Strategies for Successful Living.
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