Instead I'm just going to post a little thing I penned for my Public Speaking class (which is a blast). Enjoy!
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On this peak, overlooking the beautiful blue of bordering
mountains and valleys, and the coursing streams that are their veins, we pause to reflect. The word: reflection.
What is reflection?
Reflection is looking into the crystal clear current of the
river. The river that continually advances and never retreats. The river that contains life and that is
continually moving forward, flowing forward, rushing forward.
Reflection need not be despondent, despairing or lamentingly
desiring. Reflection is a shimmer, a glimpse of the past to project an even brighter future. It is
seeing what has gone before and choosing
only the bright, beautiful, brilliant and best. It is not living in the past,
but rather moving, flowing, rushing toward that next peak. It is when we
linger in the valley, wallow in the mire, and lose ourselves in the looking
glass that we stymy our progression. Reflection, then, is a projection of
progress, a resolution of will.
Why is it a peak that we choose to reflect upon? Because, we
must reflect right before we take that next plunge into the river valley of
potential fears, failure and fight.
What are you choosing to reflect upon? Can you only see the
ugly scars left from a failed assent? Does it project and inspire you to action,
or do you now feel clenched in the fist of Narcissa, caught in a trap of
nostalgia or remorse?
Ultimately when we reflect on our past, when we reflect within
ourselves and look deeply into our own eyes, I hope we will find there a
zeal. A zeal to leave behind the would not’s, could not’s and should not’s of
yesterday; to progress toward the action and adventure of tomorrow. The past is
pointless if we do not reflect, resolve and respond with action. Resolutely
determined to flow on, always advancing,
never retreating.
When we reflect let us resolve to have an iron will, like
that depicted by Ella Wheeler Wilcox in this poem:
There is no chance, no destiny, no fate,
Can circumvent or
hinder or control
The firm resolve
of a determined soul.
Gifts count for nothing; will alone is great;
All things give way before it, soon or late.
What obstacle can
stay the mighty force
Of the sea-seeking
river in its course,
Or cause the ascending orb of day to wait?
Each well-born soul must win what it deserves.
Let the fool prate of luck. The fortunate
Is he whose
earnest purpose never swerves,
Whose slightest
action or inaction serves
The one great aim. Why, even Death stands still,
And waits an hour sometimes for such a will.
When we reflect, let us not get washed away in the furious
floods of the would not’s, could not’s and should not’s of yesterday, but let
us resolve to be a “mighty force” constantly plotting a course through the
current; resolutely determined to flow
on.
Always advancing. Never retreating.
It may not be too evident from my extremely sparse blogging, but I really do love to write. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I like writing it.
