The Word is REUNITED
Definition: Merriam-Webster Dictionary: to come together again
My Story on Reunited
This past weekend I attended my 50th High School reunion.
Now, I’m not a neurologist or psychologist, so I don’t claim to fully understand the vast capacity of the human mind. But I know that mine provided me with some remarkable flashbacks, as I circled the venue, surrounded by people from my childhood. It was incredible how memories seemed to transport me back to my youth. As the night progressed, the light became brighter and brighter in my mind. Familiar smiles, contagious laughter, and a vivid version of my younger self resurfaced. It was truly amazing.
As the night continued, I found myself regressing. I hesitated, using that word for fear it might sound negative. So, I consulted the dictionary and found the definition I hoped for.
"Regress: to return to a former or less developed state." Isn’t that precisely who we were in grades K-12? In what I would call the foundational phase of life, we experienced social, academic, physical, and emotional challenges. In those formative years, we may have been gifted with teachers who saw a quality or talent in us that inspired or motivated us in one direction over another. Or perhaps we had a friend who protected us from bullying or awkward adolescent experiences, preparing us for the real world.
At the reunion, I overheard a group of former classmates reminiscing about their art class and how it propelled them into artistic pursuits as they moved into college and careers. Social justice came up in another conversation, reminding me of the high school sociology and anthropology classes that sparked my curiosity and love of learning. I believe those impressionable lessons planted seeds that influenced the career and life paths many of us chose.
Maybe not all of us pursued those early interests in our careers, but I believe they remain a part of us, manifesting in different ways throughout the personal journeys we embarked on.
Ultimately, we are like clay, molded by the hands of teachers, classmates, and the times we lived in. Those hands helped shape and reshape us as we navigated the phases and challenges of early life. Being reunited with my classmates stirred up gratitude for those many hands that touched my life. I hope it had the same impact on all who attended that night.
Paraphrasing the words of a familiar song, which my friend Nancy reminded me of - Reunited and it felt so good.
Email: innervoicelifecoach08@gmail.com or visit my website to learn more about my coaching practice: innervoicehealthandlifcoaching.com
Hozzászólások