The Rearview Mirror

You're sitting in a parked car. The engine is running. It has been running for quite a while. You haven't touched the gearstick.

You know where you want to go. You've known for months. The road is right there. But before you pull out, there's one small thing you'd like to understand first.

Why do I always wait this long? Where does that come from? Was it school? Was it the way I was raised? Every question is a fair one. And with every question, the mirror gets a little bigger.

You're very good at this by now. You've read the books. You know all the names for it. You could give a lecture on why you haven't left yet. The engine is still running.

And at night you think: something must be wrong with me. Nothing is wrong with you. Wanting to understand yourself is not a flaw. It just can't be done from a parking spot.

So look at what the mirror is actually showing you. Take your time. Look closely. What do you see?

It's the wall behind your parking spot. The same wall as yesterday. A mirror can only show you the road you've already driven. And you haven't driven any yet. The answers you're looking for aren't back there. They're a few miles ahead.

You don't have to throw the mirror away. Glance at it now and then. It's small for a reason. And the windscreen is big for a reason. Where are you headed?