The 20-Year Mirror

Confronting Our Teenage Labels at a Class Reunion

Photo by Adrian Curiel on Unsplash

Labelizing Each Other

Earlier this summer, I attended my 40-year class reunion.

Holy cow! It seems like we just held our 20th class reunion.

I can’t believe 20 years has already passed away. 

But that 20th reunion is still fresh in my conscience.

I saw adults with whom I had attended junior high and high school as kids.

I remember seeing people I had labeled and who had labeled me because we were all into the label-maker thing back then.

“Oh yeah, well, you're this, and you're that.”

But the craziest thing I saw was the impact some of those labels had even 20 years after we graduated from high school. You could still see that some people carried the pain of those labels.

As I talked to my classmates, I could see the pain and the regret of, “I wish I hadn't treated you like that.”

Now, maturity has much to do with outgrowing that old status-driven quest. The need to be better than a peer.

So now I'm just gonna put this out there.

If you're looking for purpose or meaning in your life, you start by looking in the mirror.

And maybe ask yourself, “Is there something I could and should be doing?” 

I'm gonna caution you. 

If you're a religious person and you take a question like that to God, saying, “God, I feel like there's something more I should be doing, but I'm not sure what it is, could you show me?”

If you really mean it when you ask, “Could you show me what I'm supposed to be doing?” 

You had better be prepared for changes to start happening in your life.  

Because chances are, you're comfortable where you are. 

Most of us like to live our lives in our comfort zone. I know I do. 

But every single time that I've ever had that question and had it strong enough in my heart that I was willing to basically go to my Creator and say, “Okay, I have a hunch that there's something more you would like me to do, but I don't know what it is. Can you tell me?” 

I get a shove. Now, it's a gentle shove, but it's a shove nonetheless.

Then, out of my comfort zone, I go, and the growth cycle begins anew.

It's becoming exhilarating, but I'll tell you, that first couple of times... 

Yeah, it was pretty scary.

So, ask yourself: Are you ready to look beyond the labels, beyond the comfort, and into the mirror of possibility? 

Your next chapter in life—your true calling—may be just one brave question away.

I am Bryan Hyde.

Thank you for reading!