The P ublisher Po stulates
reason from death to just circumstances,
I struggle with the losses, knowing they
are gone. I miss them, even those friends
I have not seen or heard from in years.
My memories seldom die, and I continue
to carry them with me throughout each
day like a backpack of joy and pleasure.
When I reflect on my life, I realize
everything has worked out for the best
because I always felt the way things
worked out was for the best. Often, I am
grateful things didn’t work out the way
I’d intended. I have learned to care less
about what others think and to be truer to
myself, not because I do not believe what
others think is important, but because
it is more important to do what I think
34 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | JULY/AUGUST 2021
should be done or said. This is
selfish in a way, but I find it allows
me to be myself, right or wrong.
Therefore, to myself I am true. The
truth is, I enjoy being me. I know
I am not everyone’s taste, and
that has become acceptable, too.
Realizing perfection is not within
my abilities, I have no problem
accepting my shortcomings, of
which I have many, and I accept
myself for who I am, good or
bad, right or wrong, inspired or
dull, worthy or unworthy. I am
me, which is OK. I’ll never be the
best, and there is little chance I
am the worst, so I am happy to be
somewhere within the bell-shaped
curve. Along with these reflections
on the past and present, which
offer opportunities for introspection,
I ponder my next revelation. The
future continues to unfold, giving
me more time to live the life I enjoy as
best I can.
I hope when you reflect on your life,
you get the same feeling of pleasure I
do when I review mine. Since it is your
friends over the years that make you
the happiest, thank you for being one
of my friends. 9
Never before have I spent
much time looking
backward, as going
“forward” is normally
the direction I am heading.
However, the older I get, the more
I reflect on the incredibly good
things in my life and the wonderful
people I have encountered along
the way. At times, I feel like I led
at least a dozen lives. The mere
mention of a subject reminds me of
some connection I have had with
an event, person or experience. My
mind is filled with memories, but
I end up not spending much time
reviewing them until someone else
brings up the subject.
I would never want to go back
and live my life over again, since it
would probably result in me making
different mistakes and not improving
my present life in any way. My selfawareness
abilities are sorely lacking.
I have had friends pass away
throughout my life, but now the
frequency increases with every
passing year. Of the things I acquired
and collected over the years, I cherish
the many friends I have had the most.
Somehow, the so-called material things,
which once seemed so important, are just
in the way and are hardly missed when I
get up the courage to rid myself of them.
But my friends – from those I grew up
with, went to school with, started my
career with, have been in business with
and have known through hundreds of
other ways – have become my greatest
treasures. As I lose them for whatever
Publisher / Editor
REFLECTIONS
By Aaron R. Fodiman
I used to worry about what I say and do, but I have
found that my friends who matter don’t mind, and
those who do mind don’t matter.
TED MAGUIRE