Our Lives as Reflections of Ourselves

The subject for my Blog today is "reflections." To reflect on. A reflection of. To show back. To mirror. How our lives are reflections of ourselves.

I chose to use the word "ruminations" in the title of my Blog deliberately to "reflect" the way I process ideas. The word derives from "ruminant," which is a type of animal which chews vegetation partially, which is called a "cud," then swallows it into its first stomach, then brings it up, chewing it some more, and repeats. It is a word used to mean to meditate on something, to ponder; to turn over in the mind. It also describes the form of writing I am employing here.

I have long had a fascination with words, and their relationships. Writing, for me, allows my mind to show me what is there. Over the years, in writing, much has been revealed to me that I did not know I knew. One could also say, it is a way I tap into the Noosphere. (The word is based on the Greek word "noos" mind.) In philosophy the Noosphere is the part of the biosphere that is affected by human thought, culture, and knowledge, (Dictionary.com). It is one reason I urge you to start a Journal; to discover things about yourself of which you are unconsciously aware, and, perhaps, tap into this source of knowledge, as well.

"Reflections" is a similar type of word, with many subtle meanings. To "reflect on," is to look back on something; to "reflect" is to reveal something which cannot be seen by direct observation. A mirror reflects back whatever is in front of it; it reflects back, but in reverse. Seeing something in reverse gives one a whole new perspective on something.

The world is a mirror; it reflects back to you what you are projecting out. If you understand this, and you reflect on it, you have a whole other way of looking at yourself.

Your life is a mirror; it projects out, but also reflects back aspects of yourself. As I have written before, everything about you: how you speak and the words you use; how you dress; how you smell; everyone and everything you choose to associate yourself with, represents you to the world, and reflects back what kind of person you are.

Normally, I would not have thought to include how one smells in such a list, but in today's paper I read the following:

Al Sharpton is the best smelling man I've ever met in my life. I wouldn't be surprise if somebody said that's just how he smells when he wakes up. I don't know how much we have in common, but I guarantee we both like how he smelled. Albuquerque Journal North/Santa Fe-Venue Sec., September 3, 2010

This statement was made by bass player Ben Kaufmann of the bluegrass band Yonder Mountain String Band, during a phone interview.

Each of us does have a unique smell; most of us are not consciously aware of how someone else smells, let alone casually comment on how someone else smells for publication. I will use this quotation as an example of how everything mirrors us, and what is there to be reflected and reflected on.

How our body smells is not something most of us really want to think about; just like we don't really like to think about, or deal with, how our breath smells (to others); both, however, are a reflection of our health, as well as our intrinsic selves. It is a non-physical part of who we are, just as is our aura. Much money is currently spent on covering up those aspects of ourselves--perfume, deodorant, after shave, etc., etc. In ancient times people carried around oranges which were covered in cloves, and found other clever ways to change how the scents associated with them were perceived.

Having heard this about Al Sharpton raises him up a good deal in my estimation, as he has quite a controversial public image. What this quote reveals about Ben Kaufman, is a great deal more. Firstly, it says he is a very aware and sensitive person.

Additionally, it tells me that he is very self confident and open, and not afraid to reveal such information, not only about himself, but about his awareness of his immediate environment. Such awareness' and revelations are not the common subjects of conversation of your average male person. He is a musician; this puts him in an occupation which is outside the more common roles chosen by men in this country. The picture of him and the other band members show them to be of "middle" age and far from average. I would be happy to meet them at any time.

Each of us evaluates/judges everyone when coming in contact with them in person, or their images, if only for a fleeting fraction of a second. I have discussed this in a previous Blog regarding what happens during our first few seconds in the presence of a new person. Research done using hypnotized subjects reveals that we all have phenomenal abilities to perceive everything, if only seen for even a fraction of a second. This is what subliminal and embedded-image advertising is all about; vast amounts of money is paid out for its creation. For debunkers it explains everything paranormal.

In actuality this awareness may really be only the observable end of a spectrum of what we call "human potential"--the 90 percent which we don't use and are totally unaware of.

I leave you with that thought.

Shirley Gallup