Reflecting on change Published Aug. 15, 2014 By Lt. Col. Tracy Monahan 934th ASTS commander MINNEAPOLIS ST PAUL AIR RESERVE STATION -- I work at an academic institution and this time of year brings with it the start of a new semester and academic year. Whenever one cycle is complete, we begin to reflect on the past as well as plan for the future. Every year at this time I look forward to an article published by Beloit College titled "The Mindset List". It makes us in academia aware of what the mindset is of the incoming freshmen class. Here a just a few mindsets taken from the list for incoming freshman (who will graduate in 2017): -Having a chat has seldom involved talking -A tablet is no longer something you take in the morning -They have known only two presidents -They have always been able to plug into USB ports -They were born in 1995, Dean Martin, Mickey Mantle and Jerry Garcia have always been dead. I encourage you to read the entire article for the incoming class of 2017 which can be found at http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2017. Ok, so we in the military don't have a so-called freshman class but we do have new personnel of all ages, backgrounds and skill level coming /going in our units. Taking time to reflect on change can enhance our interactions with others. How often do you take the time to reflect on what has changed over time in your life? How did you handle that change? Sometimes reflecting on the changes of the past can enhance our perspective and attitude on how we handle change today. When was the last time you thought about how much change has occurred since you were born? Graduated high school? Graduate college? Joined the military? Change is most often associated with times like this, New Year's or perhaps the beginning of a fiscal year. This change mentality is natural. But remember, you don't have to wait on these natural types of events to change your mind set...you can do that at any time! I hope after reading this short blog, it might provide a jump start for you to spend a few moments in reflection and change or implement something you've been wanting to or waiting on. Reflection is healthy....it lends itself to new ideas, attitudes, and understanding. How's your mindset today?