Constantly fiddling with my tiny, vibrating rearview mirror prompted me to think about the role of the rearview mirror. It's not so much about looking back. It helps me assess the situation so I can adjust my actions in the present, and anticipate what's about to come.
It's critical to brace for things like strong slip streams from semis. Those forces make me feel like my bicycle frame might bend in half. They also have a tendency to strip my shirt off my body so it gets stuck up near my ears. (Now you know why cyclists wear body suits and lycra.)
Reflecting backward plays an important role. In my role as a military officer and as a technology executive, I count on lessons learned and spotting patters from how things unfolded in the past.
But the rear view mirror is only a small part of my full field of view. We can't let the past preoccupy us. If we do, we'll miss the beauty around us and the opportunities before us.
These striated rock formations in Wyoming look like painted hills. There are beautiful shades of red, orange, blue, and purple.
