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MsTanner -> We are each other's mirrors (5/25/2016 7:32:23 PM)
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BRUTUS: No, Cassius; for the eye sees not itself,
But by reflection, by some other things.
~ William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar, Act I, scene ii
When I look out of my eyes, I see much the same world I have always seen. When I look down, well, things have changed a bit over the years, but not in any way that a philosopher would say matters. When I look inward and examine my own character, I am aware of a maxim I was raised with: "The brain is no judge of itself." The drunk driver often perceives he is "fine" to drive. The lunatic often believes he is the only sane person on the planet.
And so I acknowledge that while it is my responsibility, and no one else's, to set my own moral compass and align my values by the highest ideals I personally hold, it is also important that I choose well the mirrors who will reflect me back to myself. Discerning which mirrors are true and which are warped is one of life's challenges. Is the one which illuminates a particular strength or weakness to be trusted, or is it twisting the eye? Is there a hidden agenda at work, either to make me seem closer to my ideal than I am (I love those mirrors that make me look very tall and thin), or farther from the mark (dressing rooms mirrors and bathing suits ... nuff said)?
This little reflective piece of writing doesn't end with an admonition or a piece of wisdom for others. It is a reminder to myself to choose well the mirrors in my life, to discern their warps and ripples, to look closely at what they reveal, and to adjust accordingly as I may.
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