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Who are you, Maya Angelou?
As we near the end of Black History Month, Hannah directs our attention to one of the most famous and influential Black-American writer-performers–Maya Angelou.
By Hannah Hall
As February is Black History Month, we can take this time to reflect and honor the achievements of the African-American community in the past and present. Somebody I wanted to talk about and remember during this time is Maya Angelou. Angelou was an African-American “author, poet, historian, songwriter, playwright, dancer, stage and screen producer, director, performer, singer, and civil rights activist” (Poetry Foundation). She is known for writing a multitude of autobiographies—her first and most internationally recognized being I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings—and her many many poetry books. One poem that I wanted to introduce to the blog is her poem Caged Bird.
The poem acts as an extended metaphor to the past and present struggles of race-based oppression African-American communities face in this country. The cage symbolizes the physical, psychological, and emotional limitations that oppression creates for the caged bird inside, which can be interpreted as the African-American community. The “free bird” in this poem can be interpreted as the white community in America and how they live without something actively holding them back. Because of the color of their skin, they have nothing stopping them from pursuing their desires because there aren’t any societal limitations. I encourage you to read this poem and in your own time reflect on its depth and historical background.
Caged Bird by Maya Angelou
A free bird leaps
on the back of the wind
and floats downstream
till the current ends
and dips his wing
in the orange sun rays
and dares to claim the sky.
But a bird that stalks
down his narrow cage
can seldom see through
his bars of rage
his wings are clipped and
his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
The free bird thinks of another breeze
and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees
and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn
and he names the sky his own
But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams
his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream
his wings are clipped and his feet are tied
so he opens his throat to sing.
The caged bird sings
with a fearful trill
of things unknown
but longed for still
and his tune is heard
on the distant hill
for the caged bird
sings of freedom.
Sources:
https://poets.org/poet/maya-angelou
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48989/caged-bird
Black History Month Editor: Evan Spry
Tulsa Massacre or Tulsa Race Riot?
By Jake Sonderman
In the wake of the George Floyd protests over the summer and extreme momentum in the Black Lives Matter movement, we’ve all been learning more about the history of the Civil Rights Movement and racial injustice in the US than we learned in our American history classes. I feel there definitely should have been proportionately more curriculum on the subject. A key event in the history of racial injustice in the US is the Tulsa Massacre.
The History
The Tulsa Massacre, also referred to as the Tulsa Race Riot, began on May 31, 1921, in the Greenwood neighborhood (aka “Black Wall Street”) in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This small neighborhood was coined “Black Wall Street” because of the many successful African-American owned businesses. The neighborhood had its own school, dental practice, and hospital (whose owner was one of the few black millionaires at the time). In May 1921, Dick Rowland, an African-American shoe shiner, was accused of raping a white woman in an elevator. He was being held at the courthouse. An article was published in the Tulsa Tribune with sources saying a lynching was planned that night for Rowland. Groups of armed whites and armed African-Americans rallied around the courthouse that night. The confrontation resulted in one white man being shot, and that was the spark. The white mob went on to kill as many as 300 African Americans (the actual number is not known, but it is between 75-300) (Britannica.com). The mob also burned down most of the businesses on Black Wall Street, and insurance companies would not give these businesses their pay out because their policy did not cover “rioting” (Tulsaworld.com).
Riot or Massacre?
Merriam-Webster defines a riot as, “a tumultuous disturbance of the public peace by three or more persons assembled together and acting with a common intent” (Merriam-Webster.com). Denotatively, this describes what happened on May 31-June 2, 1921. A group of whites disturbed the public peace in Greenwood by burning many businesses and were most definitely acting with a common intent. But, to ignore the connotations of the word “riot” is problematic.
In Tulsa, the property damage and murders were directed at a specific group of people. While the arrest of Dick Rowland sparked the disaster, it was not the entire cause. The cause is likely rooted in resentment, as Greenwood was wealthier than some of the white communities surrounding it. That day was a sort of reckoning for the white mobs that desecrated Greenwood.
Massacre.
The most common definition of massacre is, “the act or an instance of killing a number of usually helpless or unresisting human beings under circumstances of atrocity or cruelty” (Merriam-Webster). A less common definition also by Merriam-Webster is, “an act of complete destruction.” I believe this second definition perfectly characterizes what happened in Tulsa in 1921. This was an act of vast destruction on Greenwood’s lives and livelihoods.
The first Merriam-Webster definition characterizes the violence well enough, considering how many African Americans were killed in those two days. Technically, however, they weren’t defenseless at the beginning, but after that first encounter, the “riot” turned into the killing of defenseless citizens in Greenwood. The incident devolved into white patrols roaming the streets of Greenwood shooting on sight (Britannica.com). The U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee passed the Tulsa-Greenwood Race Riot Claims Accountability Act, where they heard testimonies from survivors. One survivor, Olivia J. Hooker, said she survived the “Tulsa Race Riot of 1921”; she self corrected and added, “but what really was a massacre” (TulsaWorld.com).
All of this is why I believe we should call what happened in Tulsa a massacre. It is important we take note of the connotations of words when dealing with important historical subjects such as these, so that we can make sure those who learn about this later get an accurate picture of our history.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/event/Tulsa-race-riot-of-1921
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riot
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/massacre
Black History Month Editor: Evan Spry
Influential and Inspirational African-American Lawyers
Continuing our representation of important African-American leaders, blogger Elizabeth shares the most influential and inspirational African-American Lawyers.
By Elizabeth Shay
In honor of Black History Month, and combining my interest in law, here is a list of five revolutionary Black lawyers that have played an important role in history and deserve to be recognized.
Macon Bolling Allen (1816-1894)
In the 1840s, Macon Bolling Allen left his job as a teacher in Indiana and became an apprentice to prominent attorney and abolitionist, General Samuel Fessenden (LawWorks). Many believe Allen was the first African American to be licensed to practice law in the United States, at a time when Black Americans were not even considered citizens. And, Macon was licensed to practice in two states–Maine and Massachusetts. Allen was also the first African-American Justice of the Peace. He was a partner in the first known African-American owned firm, established in South Carolina in 1868.
Notable fact: It is reported that Allen walked 50 miles to take the bar exam in Massachusetts because he couldn’t afford transportation (MesserliKramer).
Charlotte E. Ray (1850-1911)
Charlotte E. Ray became the first Black woman to earn a law degree in 1872. She graduated from Howard University, specializing in corporate law. Ray was also the first female admitted to the District of Columbia Bar and became the first female to practice before the Supreme Court in D.C. This allowed women in other states to seek admission to their state bars. Charlotte Ray also opened her own law office before becoming active in the women’s suffrage movement. She was praised for her eloquence and comprehensive legal expertise (LawWorks).
Notable fact: In order to disguise her identity as an African-American woman, it is alleged that Ray applied to the bar under the name C.E. Ray (MesserliKramer).
Jane Bolin (1908-2007)
Jane Bolin’s father was a successful lawyer in New York. After graduating from Wellesley College, she was accepted into Yale University despite discouragement from an advisor. Bolin became the first African-American woman to graduate from Yale Law School. In 1931, she passed the bar in New York City and began practicing in 1932 (LawWorks). A woman of many firsts, she was appointed as the first African-American female judge and the first to work in New York City’s legal department, in the office of the corporation counsel. She was a judge in Family Court and took on domestic issues, helping neglected and orphaned children, and changing segregationist policies that assigned probation officers based on skin color and the placement of children in child-care agencies based on ethnic background.
Notable fact: Jane Bolin chose not to wear judicial robes in order to help the children she worked with feel more comfortable (MesserliKramer).
Charles Hamilton Houston (1895-1950)
Charles Hamilton Houston started out as an English professor and eventually became known as “the man who killed Jim Crow.” While Houston was serving in the U.S. Infantry as a First Lieutenant during World War I, he experienced blatant bigotry so he enrolled at Harvard Law. He became the first Black-American editor of the Harvard Law Review, earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1923, and joined the Washington D.C. bar in 1924. Houston went on to become Dean of Howard University School of Law, helping make the institution the leading training center for civil rights activists pursuing law. Charles also served as the first special counsel for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), and was involved in almost every Supreme Court case about civil rights between 1930 and 1950.
Notable fact: Houston wrote the strategy for ending segregation in public schools by proving that it would be more expensive to create “separate but equal” schools than it was to allow integration (LawWorks).
Thurgood Marshall (1908-1993)
)
Top student and protegé of Charles Hamilton Houston, Thurgood Marshall graduated from Howard University after being rejected from the University of Maryland Law School on the basis of his race. After graduating and passing the bar, Marshall successfully sued the University of Maryland on behalf of another Black student who was denied admission there. Marshall was the first African American to be nominated to the Supreme Court. He was the Court’s first African American justice, serving from 1967 to 1991. He also served as the 32nd Solicitor General and judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. Thurgood Marshall established a legal practice in Baltimore and founded the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. He led the landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education, that outlawed racial segregation in schools (LawWorks).
Notable fact: Marshall represented and won more Supreme Court cases than anyone else in history.
These lawyers have each made history in their own way. As we move forward to the future, reflecting on the struggles and achievements from those in the past allows us to make progress. As Thurgood Marshall said, “Where you see wrong or inequality or injustice, speak out, because this is your country” (judgeawcenter.umd.ed).
Sources Referenced:
https://lawworks.com/en/blog/read/1260974717/black-lawyers-who-changed-the-world
Black History Month Editor: Evan Spry
Beautiful Culture Properly Incorporated
This month we celebrate “Black History Month.” Blogger Erik looks to Black Panther–a film that rocked movie theaters around the world with its amazing all-Black cast, Black superhero story, and attention to cultural detail.
Names
Most of the film’s characters are lifted directly from the pages of the Black Panther comic books. However, their names have real-life origins. The names of Black Panther characters include . . .
Okoye
- Translation: “Born on orie market day”
- Origin: Igbo (language), Eastern Nigeria
Shuri (right)
- Translation: “Village”
- Origin: Japan
Nakia (left)
- Translation: “Pure and faithful”
- Origin: Egypt
Zuri
- Translation: “Beautiful”
- Origin: Swahili (language)
Dora Milaje
One of the best parts of the movie was the all-female warrior unit: the Dora Milaje. Led by Okoye, the Dora Milaje are fierce and loyal to the Wakandan throne. Their design is a culmination of numerous cultural aspects.
The idea of an all-female warrior unit is not just a sign of progressive times. The Dora Milaje actually draw inspiration from a real-life group of warrior women who fought French colonial forces in the 1600s. The “Dahomey Amazons,” as they’re called by Western historians, were created because their nation needed manpower to fight colonists, but most of the manpower had been stolen by slave traders. So, King Ghezo, ruler of Dahomey (modern-day Benin), created the female military unit.
The tall spears and red armor of the Dora Milaje warriors resemble the semi-nomadic Maasai tribe of northern Tanzania and southern Kenya. The beaded and disc necklaces seen worn by other Wakandans were also borrowed from the Maasai.
Speaking of neck jewelry, the golden neck rings originate from the Ndebele tribe of South Africa. Traditionally, Ndebele men give these rings to their wives after they’ve built a house together. However, these rings have lately become a fashion trend in modern-day South Africa.
Language
Even though Wakandans are fictional, their language is very much real. The Wakandas speak isiXhosa, which is the native language of the real-life Xhosa people of South Africa. Namhla Mbawuli, a isiXhosa speaker who lives in Johannesburg, claimed the inclusion of the language in Black Panther is “phenomenal” and “reinforces the importance of our culture, accepting our language and having pride in being Xhosa” (www.nytimes.com).
Sadly, Black Panther’s lead Chadwick Boseman passed away August 28, 2020. Mr. Boseman, you’ll always be king in our hearts. #WakandaForever
Sources
- http://www.nytimes.com
- https://qz.com/africa/1210704/black-panthers-african-cultures-and-influences/
- http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20180826-the-legend-of-benins-fearless-female-warriors
Black History Month Editor: Evan Spry
The Most Influential Black Scientists in History
February is Black History Month, and the Palm Valley Blog would like to highlight some of the most influential Black leaders of our time. We start with blogger Sara’s list of the most influential Black scientists in history.
We all know of Einstein, Newton, and Hawking. But, during this Black History Month, let’s take a moment to appreciate some Black scientists who also left their mark on history.
George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver was an agricultural scientist who made his scientific breakthrough with peanuts. Yes. Peanuts.
Born a slave a year before slavery was outlawed, Carver left home young to pursue his education.
In 1894, Carver was the first African American to earn a Bachelor of Science degree. While studying at Iowa State University, he quickly impressed many of his professors with his research into fungi and soybeans. Eventually, they convinced him to stay for his masters studies.
It was then that his idea of crop rotation created a scientific breakthrough. He learned that years of growing cotton had depleted the nutrients from the soil, resulting in fewer crops. But, by growing nitrogen-fixing plants like peanuts and soybeans, the soil could be restored. This scientific discovery soon greatly benefited farmers and the economy.
Katherine Johnson
Not only was Katherine Johnson one of the first black students to integrate into West Virginia’s graduate schools, but she was a key player at NASA.
In 1962, Johnson was called upon to help secure the orbital mission of John Glenn. The complexity of the orbital flight had required the construction of a worldwide communications network; these computers were responsible for keeping Glenn’s mission safe and successful. As a part of the preflight checklist, Glenn asked for Johnson, known then as one of the most talented mathematicians at NASA, to run the same numbers through the same equations that had been programmed into the computer, but by hand on her desktop mechanical calculating machine. “If she says they’re good, then I’m ready to go,” he said (NASA).
Because of Johnson’s work, Glenn’s flight was a success. This moment was significant in changing the trajectory of the U.S. and Soviet Union’s efforts in space.
To learn more about her, watch the movie Hidden Figures featuring Taraji B. Henson, Janelle Monae, and Octavia Spencer.
Alice Ball
Alice Ball was an African-American chemist who developed the most effective treatment for leprosy in the 20th century. Chaulmoogra oil had been previously used for treating leprosy, but the treatment wasn’t widespread because it was too sticky and hard to manage in hospitals. Some hospitals used injections of the oil, but all it did was form bubbles under the patients’ skin, making their skin look and feel like bubble wrap with blisters. If the patients tried to swallow it, it tasted so bad that many threw up or choked while swallowing it.
At just the young age of 23, Ball developed a technique that would allow the chaulmoogra oil to become injectable and absorbable by the body. This technique, now known as the “Ball Method,” was the only treatment for leprosy that didn’t leave blisters on the skin or a bad taste in the mouth.
Unfortunately, due to her early death, Alice was unable to publish her revolutionary findings. Arthur L. Dean, a fellow chemist, continued her work, published the findings, and began producing large quantities of the injectable chaulmoogra extract.
Otis Boykin
Otis Boykin was a 20th-century African American inventor whose work improved electrical resistors, which made the development of electronic devices possible.
Boykin pursued graduate studies at the Illinois Institute of Technology from 1946 to 1947, but, unfortunately, he had to drop out when his family could no longer afford to pay tuition. Although unfortunate, this event led Boykin to begin working on electrical inventions.
Boykin earned his first patent in 1959 for a wire precision resistor and a patent for an electrical resistor in 1961 that was both inexpensive and easy to produce. This resistor had the ability to “withstand extreme accelerations and shocks and great temperature changes without danger of breakage of the fine resistance wire or other detrimental effects” (MIT).
Without Boykin, we wouldn’t have televisions, computers, radios, or pacemakers. We really owe him!
In fact, we owe all these scientists. They’ve changed and impacted our lives.
Sources:
https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/george-washington-carver
https://scientificwomen.net/women/ball-alice-121
https://www.nasa.gov/content/katherine-johnson-biography/
https://lemelson.mit.edu/resources/otis-boykin
Black History Month Editor: Evan Spry
18 Inspirational Quotes about Making the Right Choice
Editor Erik asked the Blog Staff to write about “Missed Opportunities.” For those of you debating whether to jump at that next opportunity, Hannah’s compiled a list of quotes to keep under advisement. Dear reader, guide yourself through life by making the right choices.
By Hannah Hall
Missing opportunities result in probably one of the worst feelings ever, in my opinion. But, when you miss an opportunity, it is most likely going to be for the logical reason of the risk being too high. And, even if you do take the chance, you have to think: Is it worth it when you are left with emotional, financial, or physical repercussions? I honestly say, no, but if you are in a sticky situation that requires you to either be all in or all out, I recommend you read these quotes and allow them to guide you towards making the right choice. Because, in the end, making the right decision is the best decision–even if you miss an opportunity.
“The only way of catching a train I have ever discovered is to miss the train before.” ― G.K. Chesterton
“We choose our joys and sorrows long before we experience them.” — Khalil Gibran
“Our lives are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss.” — Eric Roth
“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” — Michael Jordan
“Why cry about missed opportunities when you have the ability to smile at opportunities lived?” — Greg Plitt
“Sometimes it’s the smallest decisions that can change your life forever.” — Keri Russell
“Excuses will always be there for you. Opportunity won’t.” — Anonymous
“Don’t live in regret over missed opportunities, for if you do, you will miss even more.” ― Charbel Tadros
“We are free to choose our paths, but we can’t choose the consequences that come with them.” — Sean Covey
“He missed an invaluable opportunity to hold his tongue.” — Andrew Lang
“Stop worrying about missed opportunities and start looking for new ones.” — I. M. Pei
“What goes around, comes around.” — Willie Nelson
“I’ll make the right decision, whichever one it is. I have to be 100 percent, not 95 or 99.” — Karl Malone
“Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. But if you do, make new ones. Life is too short to make the wrong choice twice.” ― Joyce Rachelle
“We never regret the love we give, / We regret giving it to the wrong people …” ― Samiha Totanji
“Sometimes you make the right decision, sometimes you make the decision right.” — Dr. Phil
“All the roads you regret for not going to the end represent the alternative lives you have missed!” ― Mehmet Murat İldan
“The only way to make the right decision is to find out which is the wrong decision, to examine that other path without fear, and only then decide.” — Paulo Coelho
Hopefully, reading these quotes have inspired you to take the path that is right for you. Take what resonates with you, and go. If you don’t, that choice could very well end up being your next missed opportunity.
Missed Opportunities Editor: Erik Bearman
Win Some; Lose Some
Editor Erik assigned the Blog Staff to write about “Missed Opportunities.” Jake catalogues some of his “misses.”
By Jake Sonderman
Sometimes, you don’t realize you’ve missed something ‘til you’ve missed it. I try to take every opportunity that comes my way, but sometimes I let some slip. Here’s some opportunities that I let slip through the cracks.
Bret Michaels
This is the one that really stings. My band was playing Stagecoach (for like 30 people). A friend who somehow knew Bret Michaels (who was also playing at Stagecoach for like 20,000 people), somehow got him to invite us to play a song with him during his show. We were going to play “Nothing But a Good Time,” the finale. We were prepared, learned the song, went backstage, the whole thing. Something went wrong during the soundcheck, and they rescinded their offer. As consolation, he invited us up on stage with a bunch of other dudes. Still cool, but I frequently think what it would’ve been like to play for so many people.
High School Musical
I really wish this wasn’t the first show I auditioned for. It was likely the only one I had a chance of getting cast for. In case you didn’t know, Disney+ came out with a High School Musical show. I auditioned for Big Red, and I dropped the ball a bit. I got a call back and auditioned on the Disney lot. I dropped the ball by forgetting a line, and once you forget one, it all comes falling apart. I’ve done many auditions since, and if I perhaps had some experience I would have practiced better and been cast. Maybe not. Who knows.
Gamestop
This is an opportunity that many missed out on. I was, however, looking at Gamestop and Reddit a couple days before the insanity. I thought in my head, “People are talking about it, but why would people buy Gamestop stock when nobody buys physical games anymore?” I almost got in at $30 a share then $90 a share in a couple days. I missed out. But, hey, as Kyle says, “No one cares if you almost bought something.”
SAG
This is sort of double sided. I had a chance after I did an UberEats commercial to be a part of the Screen Actors Guild. It has a $3,000 initial fee and another $200 yearly fee, but it still would have been cool. I also would have had access to some very big auditions (but also would have had more competition). All in all, I don’t totally regret it, but it still would have been a cool thing to put on college apps.
Piano
I know that there was no way I would keep doing piano after 4th grade, but I sure wish I did. Piano is definitely something with a steep learning curve. I wish I had kept with it, not just to be a good piano player, but so I had at least some coordination. Now, with any instrument, my biggest challenge is always coordination. And, it goes without saying, being a good piano player is very charming.
These are some of my missed opportunities. We all have them. But, the past is in the past. Keep looking forward. (Need help looking forward? Check out Elizabeth’s post on “Regrets.”)
Missed Opportunities Editor: Erik Bearman
Invest or Starve
Tasked with discussing the theme of “Missed Opportunity,” Blogger Evan decided to educate people about how to avoid missing money-making opportunities. Evan tells us how to invest better, without regrets.
By Evan Spry
In this day and age, there are only really two ways to make money. You can either earn an income by working, or you can invest in assets. In this article, I will make the case for the latter money-making method. Have you ever wondered what really goes on in the stock market, you know, the thing that supposedly measures the stability and success of our economy even though it only represents a minuscule group of elite corporations? Well, I think the simplicity of it all will actually surprise you. We’ve all been told that it is much too complicated for the average person to understand investing, and that only the minority of CEOs and hedge-fund managers could possibly benefit from the stock market. It used to be, you had to invest through a stockbroker, or go to the bank. Nowadays, the absolute best thing about investing in the stock market is that anyone can do it. And, there are just too many benefits in investing to ignore this money-making opportunity. Here are the top five reasons you must invest your money:
- Beat Inflation: In our world, almost everything fluctuates over time. This fluctuation happens a lot in economics, and one of the best examples of this is the increase and decrease in the value of certain countries’ currencies. This fluctuation also increases inflation, like how in India, “100 rupees today would only be 96.5 rupees next year according to recent Indian inflation statistics, which implies that you would lose 4.5% of your money every year if kept as cash” (Businesstoday.in). This simply means that if you were to invest your money into something, instead of having it as cash, you would have saved money.
- Retirement Corpus Creation: Investing as soon as possible is best because while doing so, you can set aside funds for retirement and create a retirement corpus.* This corpus will accumulate wealth over time, adding a safety net of savings for the future. Of course, in this case, time is almost more valuable than the money itself, so you should start this process as soon as possible.
- Tax-Saving: Some possible investments can give you a double-return by “…providing returns as well as reducing your taxable income” (Businesstoday.in). This is saving money. And saving money is making money!
- High Returns: Another reason I urge you to invest is the fact that investing helps you achieve higher returns than a bank’s saving account. The average interest rate today on savings accounts is .05% (smartasset.com). Some markets could even provide returns upwards of 20 percent, if everything goes perfectly. So, investing in the market will make you more money over time, but there are still the obvious risks involved.
- Wealth Creation: The last reason investing is something you need to do is probably the simplest, plain old wealth creation. If you invest your money, it allows it to grow, which can offer big returns for it in the future. Allowing your money to compound positively is probably the best thing you can do, so invest!
*Retirement corpus is the fund you need to put aside as savings by the end of your work life to receive an adequate pension for your retired life (aegonlife.com).
**All investment strategies and investments involve risk of loss. Nothing contained in this website should be construed as investment advice. Any reference to an investment’s past or potential performance is not, and should not be construed as, a recommendation or as a guarantee of any specific outcome or profit.
Missed Opportunities Editor: Erik Bearman
Say Goodbye to Regrets
This week, bloggers are discussing “Missed Opportunities.” Blogger Elizabeth moves beyond personal missed opportunity to how we can all move past regrets in life and embrace the positive.
By Elizabeth Shay
There are times in our lives when we look back to the past at missed opportunities. The predominant emotion that we feel when reflecting on missed opportunities is regret. It can be hard to recover and thrive after a missed opportunity, but sometimes they can be a blessing in disguise. Here are three tips to help you live your best life without regrets and grow from your experiences:
Acknowledge that regret is normal…
All emotions have a function for survival, including regret. Our brain uses regret to tell us to take another look at our choices. Regret stems from counterfactual thinking, or the human tendency to create possible alternatives to life events that have already occurred (Wikipedia), and the easier it is to envision different outcomes, the more likely we are to regret life opportunities (Psychology Today).
Identify the positives…
Sometimes things happen for a reason. Your missed opportunities could be a blessing in disguise, as cliched as that sounds. Instead of dwelling on what you may have missed out on, reframe your thinking into the positive. Brainstorm and consider things in your current life that you are grateful for that may not be a part of your life had you taken a different path. This will allow you to move forward (Inc).
Look to the future…
Rather than remaining bogged down with the weight of the past, search for the next opportunity awaiting you in the future. Recognize what is important to you and what your goals are, and now that you have experience and a clear vision, you will be able to capitalize on opportunities as they come. At the same time, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone because you never know where those spontaneous decisions could lead. The road on the journey of life is not always clear; there is no map to reach our final destination. So why not experience all that you can along the way?
Sources Referenced:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-mindful-self-express/201205/the-psychology-regret
Missed Opportunity Editor: Erik Bearman
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