Dec 11, 2020
Rediscovering Lost Values, Look Back at 2020
There are 20 days left in 2020. Say what you may about the year, it has proceeded swiftly like most other. This year has been diverse in many ways. The year has offered challenges, opportunities, adversity, progress, unfairness, advancement, and everything in between. Now is the time to pause and reflect. Now is the time to truly make an ample effort to revisit and look back at one’s actions over the year. There is much to be absorbed by revisiting past memories and emotions. There are lessons learned along the way that must be brought to the forefront.
Learning is a lifelong process, not a short-term injection. The great Martin Luther King Jr. gave a wonderful sermon called Rediscovering Lost Values. It is one of my favorite speeches because of the truthfulness within the words. Much can be gathered from the speech that can be applied present day. Not here to dissect it all but merely offering a few examples that may serve the point. Dr. King’s words are powerful, standing the test of time. What one takes away from the words of another is the essence of life. Pay attention to the wise and when they speak, listen.
Look Within
In order to find the truth, always look within. I won’t stop preaching this fundamental component of life. Stop looking for external solutions to internal problems. Dr. King said, “I think we will have to look in the hearts and souls of men.” Yes, the truth is never far. The light emanates from the soul. What is held within comes to surface for all to view and experience. Words are spoken from the heart. Words have the power to uplift and inspire or depress and discourage. Words can demonstrate love or hate, as well as affection or coldness. Watch your words carefully. Am certain that nearly everyone at one point or another in the year 2020 spoke words that they would like to take back. I certainly have, how about you?
Lessons, Values are Left Behind
“If we are to go forward,” Dr. King said, “if we are to make this a better world in which to live, we’ve got to go back. We’ve got to rediscover these precious values that we’ve left behind.” Yes, we can march onward without looking back but if we are to truly advance, we must take prior knowledge and apply it to the present. Answers to the present-day problems are within mankind. When we fail to apply lessons of the past, we tend to make the same mistakes.
During the year 2020, I had committed numerous blunders. All of the poor choices made are my own doing. Looking back and revisiting certain situations is not ideal. It hurts the soul. The reflection process is not something I take lightly. In order to go forward with a full heart, I have to go back and experience the pain and agony. It is my responsibility to do this in order to not display mediocre conduct in the year ahead. All must take the time to recall these instances in order to understand, learn, and implement a new path forward. Without time and effort, similar mistakes will be apparent in the future. We all have truthful values within. We know better yet fail to act properly. Never leave values behind. Go back, revisit and take it forward.
Past Experiences Serve Us Well
Upon devoting time to view the past year, one will feel the importance of the exercise. We may see certain examples as progress and just leave it be. However, these instances can serve as examples of how one can further evaluate in order to make better decisions ahead. Do not settle for average when one’s best is possible.
“The real problem is that through our scientific genius we’ve made of the world a neighborhood, but through our moral and spiritual genius we’ve failed to make of it a brotherhood,” said Dr. King. This slight difference is severe. Immense. Be honest, go back and see the truth. Can we make it better? Yes, we can.
Record it All
If a life is worth living, it is worth recording. Journaling is influential and therapeutic. Recording your inner life on paper will bring clarity, especially toward the end of year. Some habits enrich your life, while others simply deprive. Our memories can only store so much information. Please trust the pen and paper, they are accurate. They will be there in the end.
Go Forward
Do not fear the unknown. Do not doubt oneself. With mindfulness, aim forward because it is the way of the universe. Time does not stand idle and neither should man. Go on with values and lessons learned in order to make progress, not find hindrance.
With love,
Vedran Agovic
