Swaying in the Wind

Socrates’ statement that “the unexamined life is not worth living,” while said many years ago, still holds meaning today. Through reflecting on our past, we can understand our present and mold the future. Thus, to understand how Socrates’ bold insight is valuable today, it is necessary to examine its uses for correcting our mistakes, assisting others, and enjoying our life’s unique experiences.
Socrates’ statement rewords the simple idea of personal growth. Without this personal growth and understanding my mistakes, my life is like a tree which swings whichever way the wind blows. It is necessary to reflect upon my life’s experiences in order to see the fallacies, inconsistencies, and mistakes in my past. Without understanding past choices, we are doomed to make the same mistakes time and again during the vicious and unrelenting cycle of life. Maturing into adulthood, I have seen many examples of the effects from not examining my own life. I think of Jessi...