This was one reunion-filled weekend. Friday night, I had an elementary school reunion (yes, you read that correctly, elementary school). Then, I spent Saturday and Sunday with a bunch of great college friends for our annual “Hamilton in the Hamptons” weekend.

It is so much fun to catch up and reconnect with people whom you haven’t seen in a while. But another reason why reunions are great: they cue self-reflection. You cannot help but think back to where you were -1 year ago, 5 years ago, 15 years ago- when you see people you shared some significant time with in the past. Reunions remind you of how far you’ve come.

But they also remind you that no matter where you’re going next, you shouldn’t ever forget where you’ve come from, what you’ve experienced or the people who were part of your life- ones who, in ways big or small, helped shape the person you are today.



It’s a really intricate balance: the ability to recall the past and remember the people and things that were so much a part of our lives, but also to move ahead and not let the past define who we can be and what we can do in the future. Reunions- whether big, organized get-togethers or accidental run-ins with people we knew long ago- are reminders to stop and reflect on who we’ve been and where we are going next. They remind us that change is not only possible but inevitable.They remind us that we are a product of circumstance, old choices and past relationships; but also of the dreams and goals we have for the future.

The next time you have a reunion of your own, take a moment and think about where you’ve been and how far you’ve come- and as a result, why there should be no doubt at all about how far you’re capable of going.