Check the Mirror Before You Go

The other day when I was using my computer I had to pause and reflect. I remember thinking that these things did not have these capabilities when I was first exposed to them. There was this program called LOGO and we could type in really basic computer codes and get the cursor to make something. The screen was completely green. Oh yeah, and we were able to type words and play games. There was no such thing as the internet and no way to actually see someone and talk to them in any way. I’m dating myself (like my b-day not on here). Anyway the thought that I had was that the new capabilities of computers actually allow for greater expectations. What I mean is these things were probably not created to do all this, but through scientific breakthroughs and inventions and advances in technology specific ideas, we now expect them to do all this amazing new stuff. In that, we have actually changed the purpose of the creation or tool. So of course this ‘got’ me to thinking…

How many things were created for an initial purpose, only to have that purpose changed throughout the course of time? Don’t even know how many things I could list but my mind is drawn to one thing in particular. It’s not an expensive item and everyone has one to use. We have more than likely changed the perfect purpose in our quest for beauty and ever growing levels of arrogance. I’m talking about that good old mirror.

For some reason, I have the feeling deep down inside that the mirror was created to provide us with an otherwise difficult or impossible to obtain opportunity.  That is the chance to look in our own eyes. Looking in the mirror is the only living still shot we have to look deep into our own eyes and to make sure that we like what we see. It’s commonly said that eyes are the windows to one’s soul. If you haven’t taken a deep, long, inquisitive, and informative look into your windows, I challenge you to this revealing feat. This ‘got’ me to thinking about what a person should be prepared for if they haven’t done it in a while….

The first thing you will notice will be age. Not age in years, but progression in wisdom. If you need a reminder then I urge you to look into the eyes of a child 5 years old or younger. That will give you a reference point. When you look in your own, notice how the sights you have seen have taken a toll on that innocence. It’s not necessarily because of the things you have seen, but a lot of times it’s because of the things we have done. The problem is that we know it all. Those eyes often times tell a story.

Standing in the mirror and looking ourselves eye to eye is our only chance to check the most important signal of all interpersonal communication. Think about it, no one has to say that a person is untrustworthy if they can never look you in your eyes. When someone can’t look you in your eyes during an explanation there is a good chance that you are being lied to. If eye contact can only be maintained for a short period of time, in many cases there is shame in there somewhere. Eyes show happiness and love but they also show hurt, anger, betrayal, and disappointment---I remember when I was young my mother could look at me and I could tell if I was pushing it, made her upset, or was about to get a naked butt-whooping (slight exaggeration…Hi Mom!)---Anyway…it’s no different when we look into our own eyes. They will show the same thing to us that we see in the eyes of others. For that matter: What could be worse than having to stare at yourself in a mirror after you had done something wrong? Depending on the dirty deed that could be a lot worse than prison.

I know, or at least I have to believe that someone invented a mirror just to make someone look in their own eyes while they were telling a lie. And here we are all these years later, we all have mirrors, and we only use them to make sure we are looking good. I’m just going to declare this as a fact: We have changed the purpose of the mirror. It’s not always easy to look in the mirror so this may help. If you can’t look in the mirror when you get home at least check the mirror before you go somewhere else. The truth about it is, there is someone waiting to tell you all about yourself.