Reflection

I seem to be spending more time reflecting. Well at least thinking about the past. Recollection, remembering, recalling. Most obviously my writing, my blogs, are usually a form of reflection. Something happens and I begin to relate it to the past. Maybe I read a book and it reminds me of other books, travel, movies, some experience. The prompt might be a movie, a dinner, a local field trip, a conversation. We recently saw “A Complete Unknown,” the Bob Dylan biopic. The next day I was listening to Dylan CDs and writing a blog about my experience with Dylan. I read “James” a Huckleberry Finn story from Jim’s perspective.  It generates a blog.             But I also, depending on weather, I’ve have been spend a lot of deck time. Sitting, as on the beach, no surf, just a breeze, birds, and green. I can just sit and reflect. Besides the deck I have two indoor chairs. In the family room in front of the woodstove. It’s so warm and comfortable. Don’t need to read or write; just enjoy the quiet contemplation. Reflection. There is also the recliner in the front room. I can roll back about 11 or after lunch; maybe a read a bit but it’s easy to close eyes and look into the past. Sometimes the present or future.             My slide project the past two years have generated a lot of reflection.  I’ve scanned over 22,000 slides.  My everyday life, family, trips, holidays, landscapes.  The images bring back so many memories.  I’ve been sending one or two daily to family and close friends.  I post others on Facebook, enjoying some response from friends.              I journal daily. Have been doing it since high school. Ocassionally like my blog, the entry relates present to past but mostly it’s a summary of the day, what happened, where I’ve been, the weather, what I’m reading. I recently read an article or book chapter that examined how reading past journal entries can function as a lens into who you are, how you got where you are now. When reading look for patterns, relationships and use what you read to write. Maybe you will eventually author a memoir. I’ve thought about beginning this process             Then there is in-bed, day dream reflection.  I don’t sleep straight through but wake up one or more times.  I try to get back to sleep by reflecting.  Maybe thinking out the past day, the upcoming day, a good experience, trip to Cape Cod or Island Beach State Park.    I think reflecting, reviewing, enjoying the past is a positive experience.  Your thoughts ?