There was a barbershop in my neighborhood that had an old cracked mirror hanging on the wall. Customers often joked about it. "Chairman, when will you replace this mirror?" The barber would laugh and continue working. One Saturday morning, a young customer asked him the same question. The barber paused, looked at the mirror, and smiled. "You see a cracked mirror," he said. "I see my beginning." Everyone became curious. He explained that years ago, when he decided to learn barbering, he couldn't afford proper equipment. That mirror was one of the first things he bought. It wasn't perfect, but it was enough to start. As the years passed, he improved his skills, expanded the shop, and trained apprentices. Yet he never removed the mirror. Not because he lacked money. But because it reminded him of where he came from. "I keep it here so success doesn't make me forget my struggle." The shop became quiet. Many people spend their lives trying to escape their past. But sometimes, our beginnings contain lessons worth remembering. The hard days teach gratitude. The failures teach resilience. The struggles teach patience. Without those experiences, success can become pride instead of wisdom. The barber knew something many people overlook: Growth is important. But remembering your journey is equally important. Because the person you become should never forget the person who started. What is one reminder from your past that keeps you grounded today?
