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ab ovo
Sunday Jan. 1, 2012
On weekend mornings I find I have time - perhaps my readers do too - to listen to some music. I choose pieces I like that connect, in some way, to my mood. I hope you enjoy these: ABBA Happy New Year , Tracy Chapman Change , Nina Simone Here Comes The Sun
I’ve often wondered – it I could run my life on two tracks, and then look back – somewhere down the road to assess which is the better way, to live life deliberately with a plan, chasing goals, in pursuit of achievement, Quixotic quest? Or, wandering aimlessly, smelling (if I could) the flowers along the way while adventuring into unknown territory as much as possible to learn, experience, taste, touch and feel as many sensations and nuances of emotion possible?
Which path would yield a better me?
Which would make me a better father, son, friend, partner, lover, client, servant, neighbour?
Which is right, or wrong, or is there a difference?
Which brings joy, which brings light, which brings feast or famine, which lasts, which lives and which withers?
I wish I knew, in all things, from the beginning . . .
But, if I knew all that – I could just phone it in. I could just follow steps, procedurally moving from day to day, week to month, season to season without reason coming into play at all. I could just go through the motions and get a happy result. Is this possible?
I doubt it is, for anyone, but I see resignation and vacant-signs in people’s eyes, as if there is no point in trying, no value in stretching, no rational reason for leaping the chasm of adventure – you know the type, when we meet them we just know – from the beginning.
1st day of any year, just another day built way out of proportion, symbolism rarely bested.
From the beginning . . . classroom teacher, orchestra conductor or lifestyle coach – their oft used phrase, “again now, from the beginning . . . ” multi-meanings, for all.
So, what is it that we know from the beginning?
A comfortable old sweater, endearing pet, best friend, inspiring book we couldn’t put down, or our song - in regard to these elements of life we’ve all commented from time to time, “I knew it, right from the beginning . . . ”
ab ovo – an ancient phrase, means from the beginning
First page, first word of my new year’s www.pageaday.com calendar. Each year my daughter Carla gives me a new calendar – with an entry that reminds me of her first day, of her sister Krista’s first day. It reminds me of so many first days on new jobs, of new adventures, first dates, first times doing countless things. Most of my firsts have a warm thought, a smile and often a chuckle to remember them by.
Firsts of the negative kind reverberate too – but rarely with from the beginning sentiment. Who wants to remember first rejections, first failures, first mistakes of any kind, first time mistakes? And who wants to remember repeated mistakes?
Exactly.
Will this be a year of intention, or accident, year of deliberateness or circumstance?
Banner, or bummer?
Do you have plans? A plan, roadmap or Google-map to lead the way, to where you are headed – or do you lead with your foot, your nose, your belly – whatever breaks the finish line tape first?
Where you are going? How you might get there? Will there be dates, milestones, touchstones . . . or will this year be a collage of happy accidents that just show up?
I only know that this is THE BEGINNING of a spectacular year. I have 366 days to make it so, and when this year is over I want to still feel that I knew it, from the beginning.
Mark Kolke
306,932
P.S.: Yesterday was a fantastic one of just hangin’ out with Carla, visiting with my dad, shopping and catching a movie (the new Mission Impossible flick was OK but I recommend waiting till it is on free TV)
column written/ published from Calgary - morning walk: -13 C/ 8 F, clear, calm and snappy; mild for this time of year but turnabout from recent days; Gusta seemed to anxious, too excited to relax . . . so we’ll try again, later . . .
Comments Received:
ONE PERSON WILL KNOW
Hi Mark.....I couldn't resist sending you this card. Mark,I wish only the best for you at all times but particularly I hope 2012 brings your dreams to fruition, PE, Calgary, AB
I hope you are having a wonderful last day of the year and that you at least anticipate a Great start to the new year beginning tomorrow. Tomorrow, Tomorrow...let’s see wasn’t that Little Orphan Annie. And, then there was Scarlett, who, would not worry about today...but would worry about “that” tomorrow. Whatever “that” is, VH, Helmville, MT
MISSION POSSIBLE
A new day opens to gun gray clouds heaped upon the morning...burnt orange spots appear upon the mountain across the valley where the sun penetrates the blanket of clouds...the wet air is that of a jungle only colder...warm enough for rain...the wind an angry banshee though the night...days fly past like wild fire leaving the burnt remains of memories in twisted blackened path...dark thoughts left for vultures to devour...what remains is the hope of spring tasted in the middle of winter in Wyoming an amazing thing...rain in winter rare indeed...though much was lost something still remains...destiny a open ended game... The taste of dreams linger upon the lips of time...perhaps that is where they belong, SJ, Evanston, WY
Thanks again for your musings. Can you change my email on the distribution list to my personal email address please? It’s #######, MB, Calgary, AB
I woke up this morning and thought about the first nations people. I wondered why so many live in poverty when i am fairly well off. I thought about the 20% of children and live below the poverty line in our province. I also drove by a house today and heard that it would cost 25,000,000 and I wondered about the homeless. Today I heard of a house that sold for 35,000,000 in West Vancouver and I wondered about the homeless. I live quit well but i am on a fixed pension and as the cost rise what will that do me but also what will do to people who are much poorer than I. I hear that Prime minister Harper wants to put more money into prisons in spite of all of the objections from every law association in Canada as well as warnings from California and Texas that this does not work. I worry about the Kiota agreement and Canada being the first to withdraw . I am 76 but i do worry about my children and grandchildren and what they will face. How about you?, DJ, Vancouver, BC
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