“Never underestimate  
the power you have  
to take your life  
in a new direction.”   
Germany Kent

Don’t look back! What’s done is done. While we cannot change the past, we do have the power to affect our future. Where is it that you want to go?

I was driving down the street a few days ago and had a strange thought. There are many things we all take for granted in our cars. One such item is the rear-view mirror. (Actually, there are two more of them attached to the sides of our cars.) They are there for a reason. They serve a valuable purpose. At the same time, they present a potential danger.

As I’m driving down the street, my primary focus is on the road ahead of me. I don’t look just at the car ahead of me. I look well beyond that — to the car in front of the one in front of me, to the next intersection, and to potential obstacles I may encounter several blocks down the road. At the same time I am focused on what’s directly ahead of me, I have a responsibility to be aware of what’s happening behind and around me. This is the purpose of rear-view mirrors.

The potential danger these mirrors present is that I might see something behind me that catches my attention. It might be an emergency vehicle, with lights flashing, approaching from behind. When such is the case, I immediately turn my attention to being able to pull over to the side of the road to safely get out of the way. Or I might look back and see an overly-aggressive driver tailgating my car, in which case I usually do what I can to switch lanes to avoid conflict. In both of these cases, the rear-view mirror serves a useful purpose.

But what if I look back and see a stunningly attractive woman in the car behind me? What if I look back and notice that the couple in the car behind me is engaged in a vicious argument? What if I look back and recognize a famous celebrity behind the wheel of the car behind me? At times like these, the distraction, especially if prolonged, poses an immediate danger.

No one needs to be told that paying attention to where we’re going is a critical factor in safe driving. This is true in life, too. A brief glance back has the potential to provide us with a feeling of safety and security, but our primary focus must be forward to where we’re going. 

To move successfully and efficiently in the direction we want to go requires self-discipline and conscientious attention. It is imperative that we not allow ourselves to be distracted by the past. Motivational speaker Paul J. Meyer stated, “Productivity is never an accident. It is always the result of a commitment to excellence, intelligent planning, and focused effort.” Whatever our goals and aspirations might be at this point in our lives, these are key ingredients to consider as we begin this new year.  

For some, the start of a new year is much like a breath of fresh air which can leave us feeling energized and ready to take on whatever challenges come our way. For others, the new year might be a time of angst if we are unhappy or unfulfilled with our situation in life. The words of author F. Scott Fitzgerald offer a bit of encouragement: “It’s never too late to become who you want to be. I hope you live a life that you’re proud of, and if you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start over.”

Wishing you all the best in 2026!