April 19Look with Hindsight
The unexpected favors of fortune, no matter how dazzling, do not mean very much to us. They may excite or divert us for a time, but when we look back, the only things we cherish are those which in some way met our original want; the desire which formed in us in early youth, undirected, and of its own accord.
Willa Cather—Song of the Lark (1915)
The wisdom of hindsight is that it's sort of accurate. Facts in hand, we are more equipped to assess potential pitfalls, opportunities, and outcomes.
Now, some might suggest there's little value in this; it's like using the answers to yesterday's crossword puzzle to complete it today.
The message is, always look with foresight to determine your ultimate outcome.
But there is much to be learned by taking stock of where you've actually arrived, no matter the intended destination or anticipated outcome.
The lesson in this is that often we arrive right where we are meant to be—no matter how hard we fight or fail to note along the winding path.
Look to your past with hindsight for the shiny little lights that mark the “desire which formed in [you] in early youth” to more fully understand why you are where you find yourself right now.
Challenge Question
- What was one of your favorite things to do as a child?
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