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When driving in your car, the rearview mirror lets you see what is coming up behind you. On the road, vehicles in back of you can follow too closely, hit you, or pass you. But if you try driving by looking only in the mirror you won’t get very far before you crash.
The highway of life is different. On this road, the events behind you stay behind you and move farther away with each passing day. Yet there are people who are obsessed with looking backward rather than forward. Although they would never try this stunt while driving, they habitually refuse to look through the front windshield of life.
There are only 24 hours in each day. Therefore, any time spent looking behind you, into the past, robs you of time to look forward into the future. The fascination with the past stems from the desire to change history. As intriguing as this concept might be, the chances of accomplishing this are zero.
Yet, people get caught in a quagmire of what could have been if only they had done this or that. Thoughts of could have, should have, or would have seize hold of the mind and clog it with useless and pointless activity.
The value of the past is that it can teach you what to change, refine, and improve when moving forward. But when you dwell in the past, forward movement stops. Although most people would make at least subtle changes, if they could do things over, there are no do overs.
As you age, the speed at which you move down life’s highway seems to increase yearly. As this perceived velocity grows, obsessing with the past can be very disconcerting. You don’t know where the time has gone and the reality of mortality becomes clearer.
This phenomenon of the accelerated passage of time is another reason why all of your attention, energy, and effort should be focused forward. Only with this directional orientation can you fully realize the potential of each day.
Imagine how boring life would be if each day was spent watching a video of what you did yesterday. You wouldn’t have time to do anything new. This is exactly how people spend their time when they get trapped in the past by looking only in their rearview mirror.
Being consumed with what has already transpired causes a great deal of stress, anxiety, and even depression. You feel powerless to change what has already happened, because you are. The only control you have is what direction to go while moving forward. You can’t go backward, but you can stagnate.
An acceptance of the past is the first step to being at peace with yourself. You may not like what has transpired, but you can’t change it. Learn from the past. Repeat those things that produced desirable results and avoid behavior that didn’t.
It’s easy and tempting to second-guess yourself. Others will also throw in their opinion of what you should or shouldn’t have done. This combined with your own tendency to analyze, over assess, and redo the past makes it difficult to stay focused on moving forward.
But move forward you must. For to live in or dwell in the past ensures that you will squander the present and short change your future. Whenever you find yourself drawn to the past, remind yourself that you are wasting time and immediately try to refocus on the present. You will realize that more time than you had thought is spent looking in life’s rearview mirror.
With consistent practice you will be able to reverse your orientation so that a minimum amount of time is spent looking backwards. Tear off the rearview mirror and devote yourself to looking forward. The results will be a happier and more rewarding life.

This Saturday, the first ever Abbeville’s Cajun Christmas Celebration will take place in Downtown Abbeville. Put on by organizations, businesses, and individuals of the community, it is truly an event by the community for the community.
This year, the Rotary Club of Abbeville has taken the parade under the the umbrella of their organization and collaborated with local businesses and organizations to bring the first Abbeville Cajun Christmas Celebration. This event will take place on the evening of Dec. 11, 2021 in Downtown Abbeville.
Abbeville Rotary President, Annette Mudd said, “When we were presented with the opportunity to take on the Abbeville Christmas Parade, we saw this as a great opportunity to give back to our community, but to also engage other organizations around town.”
Those other organizations were happy to come on board when the planning began earlier this year.
Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court, Diane Meaux Broussard said, “The parade has always been a great event for everyone to come out and watch, but this year we are opening it up so that more people can get involved, whether that’s walking, biking, or riding. If someone wants to spread Christmas cheer, we want them involved.”
The event will open at 4 p.m. with activities in Magdalen Square and food and craft vendors along Concorde Street. The parade will begin rolling at 5:30 p.m. and make its way from the train tracks on S. State Street to North Saint Charles north to Edwards Street and then end back down State Street over to Washington Street, and back to the railroad tracks. Children will have an opportunity to receive toys from Rotarians as part of the parade this year. Papa Noël will greet parade goers from an airboat as part of the “Cajun” theme and Retired Brigadier General Robert J LeBlanc will be honored as the Grand Marshal. Following the parade, there will be live entertainment, photos with Santa, activities in Magdalen Square, and shopping along Concorde Street.
“We saw the potential in this event. It’s a great way for anyone in the community to be involved, and it has appeal to those outside of our community. It is our goal to continue growing it into a festival and market that has the potential to bring in tourism dollars that benefit our businesses,” said Abbeville City Councilwoman Roslyn White.
In addition to the evening activities, there will be other events happening in Abbeville that day. Making Spirits Bright: A Holiday Light Trail around AA Comeaux brought to you by the Boys & Girls Club of Abbeville. Learn more here: https://fb.me/e/1QiMQCSqs. Junior Auxiliary of Abbeville will be holding their Here Comes Santa 5k & Fun Run that morning! Register at: https://runsignup.com/Race/LA/Abbeville/HereComesSanta5K.
This is a true collaboration of the community and all are encouraged to participate. You can still get involved until Tuesday, Dec. 7, by:
Enter to participate in the parade. Anyone can register online to walk or ride in the parade. Visit https://forms.gle/h5mV1P3SicMJ5QZq5.
Enter the city-wide front yard and storefront decoration contest. Register your home or business online to enter the judging. Visit https://forms.gle/Zae8rUkAhVsf2xbE9.
Enter as a food, non-alcoholic beverage or craft vendor. Visit https://forms.gle/pDXHSroWU68vt5cW6.
If your organization would like to get involved, please contact the Rotary Club of Abbeville.
For more information, visit AbbevilleChristmas.com or rcabbeville.org.
Organizations already involved include Rotary Club of Abbeville, Allumé Society, American Legion, Boys & Girls Club of Abbeville, City of Abbeville, Abbeville Police Department, FUEL Vermilion, Junior Auxiliary, Kiwanis Club of Abbeville, Rotary Satellite Club of Abbeville After Hours, Vermilion Chamber of Commerce, Vermilion Gives Back, Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court, Vermilion Parish Library, and the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Department.

Cassie Theall McClelland sings the words of the Abbeville High alma mater every Friday morning, along with the chorus over the intercom speakers, because she “bleeds red and grey.”
“I came to school here, and teaching here now feels like I’m right where I belong,” says McClelland. “Being chosen by my colleagues affirms my choice to be here and part of this community, and this family. I am so proud to be a Wildcat.”
According to principal Brett Darby, Abbeville High School faculty members chose McClelland as their 2021-22 Teacher of the Year, a unique and deserved choice. Most teachers awarded this title are teachers of core subjects, like math or English.
“It’s fulfilling to see a member of our Special Education Department (SPED) celebrated like this because they often do so much work behind the scenes,” says Darby. “With Cassie, she’s not only servicing the kids on her SPED caseload, but she’s working with our entire student body on many levels.”
Sixteen years into her teaching career, she has taught the last three years at AHS. Coming from J.H. Williams before that, she had the unique opportunity to teach some of the same students a second time as they came through their high school careers.
“Having that opportunity to see their growth and the evolution that happens from grade level to grade level and from school to school not only filled my heart but also enlightened me as an educator,” says McClelland.
McClelland works with ULL to facilitate their continuing education programs Upward Bound and Educational Talent Search, both programs that connect high school students with the university’s services early. This involves preparing students for the ACT and providing after-school tutoring for qualifying students.
In addition, McClelland teaches several homebound students each school year.
“I really believe that all students can learn, no matter their strengths and weaknesses,” states McClelland. “Some of these kids, you wouldn’t believe the adversity they face outside of these school walls, but they still deserve every chance at that diploma.”
From here, McClelland will apply for the title of Vermilion Parish Teacher of the Year and then on to the state level if she advances. If it stops at the school level, though, she says she’s well satisfied with the title.
“To have the support of the people I see every day at work, the people who help me push these kids through to see the light of success is the biggest reminder that I’m doing what I’m supposed to be doing. Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.”

This Saturday, Abbeville will be featuring an Art and Jewelry Show downtown. From 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Roger and Alice Boynton invite you to the show that will feature Katherine Klimitas, a New Orleans-based artist and designer who brings her love for all things artistic to live.
Katherine Klimitas, who sold her first watercolor at the age of 10, grew up in a household where her parents were veterinarians. Her artistic style reflects her life-long appreciation for animals and her belief that there is a lot that we can learn from our four-legged friends.
As a young girl, Klimitas’ parents wanted their daughter to grow up as normal as possible, even though she was the only one in a wheelchair.
The Metairie artist paints lying on her side due to osteogenesis imperfecta – brittle bone disease, which stems from a lack of collagen and leads to broken and deformed bones.
Due to OI, by the time she was 10 Klimitas had broken bones more than 500 times. As a result, at 2 feet, 7 inches tall, Klimitas has never been able to walk. Instead, she zips around in an electric wheelchair and jokes that she’s been driving since the age of 2.
Even though Klimitas thought of herself as being just like her friends, being included in everything they did as much as possible, there were times when her parents Dr. Adriana Sagrera and the late Dr. Frank Klimitas wanted her to enjoy things that she couldn’t physically do, so they came up with activities that they knew she could do.
Adriana got her daughter her first watercolor set at the age of 5 and enrolled her in several art classes, and the rest is history. Standing at 2 feet 7 inches, Klimitas has a very different way of painting and making jewelry.
“I have to paint laying down because it’s easier for me,” she said. “A professor of mine taught me how to look at something and understand what it looks like as if I were sitting up.”
She soon figured out a way to compensate for her different angle.
Focusing on the eyes for a lot of her paintings, Klimitas says that it’s because the eye is an essential part of her work.
“You can see someone’s personality through their eyes and that brings them to life.”
Klimitas began making jewelry around the age of 14.
As different as it is, it works for her.
The 32-year-old artist says that painting takes a lot of concentration.
“You’re creating something on a blank piece of paper, whereas, with jewelry, I’m taking pieces of stone or metal and putting it together,” she said, “which gives me a lot more freedom and isn’t quite as mentally demanding.”
What used to be a hobby of hers became something more. Klimitas said that when she was young, she used to create art and loved doing it for fun, but it became a minor issue that became her future.
“I’d finish a painting and think to myself, ‘okay, I just did this painting that turned out really good, so how can I monetize it?’ This had her searching for another hobby; something that could open the door for her, a career.
Graphic design. Putting most of her time meeting deadlines for her clients, graphic design is still art-related.
“It’s a little more marketable and is consumer-friendly,” she said. “It’s really helped me in my art because it allows me to do things like make products with my art on them.”
Being able to design, paint or make jewelry 3-4 times a week is something she enjoys. “If I’m having an off day, I don’t have to force myself to get up for an out-of-home job,” said Klimitas, “and I appreciate that a lot.”
KAK Art & Designs, Klimitas business, is doing well. Her love for art is in every aspect of what she does, whether it’s graphic design, painting or making jewelry.
In the former Classic Design building in downtown Abbeville, local art enthusiasts and animal lovers alike will be able to view original watercolors, signed prints, handcrafted jewelry made with precious metals and hand-picked stones, as well as gift items pairing Klimitas collection of wildlife art with humorous quotes will be available during the Art and Jewelry Show.
Refreshments and door prizes will welcome you while visiting the show. The address is 112 S. State Street in Abbeville, across from the Sheriff’s Office.